Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative, House Majority Leader, and presidential son Sandro Marcos has openly challenged Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines and confront the corruption allegations against him.
Speaking to the media after the leadership shake-up in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 17, Marcos stressed that Co must answer pressing questions surrounding his alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, his links to Sunwest Inc.—one of the Top 15 contractors flagged by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.—and the controversial insertions in the 2025 national budget.
“I’m gonna be the first one to tell you that he should come home and face any and all allegations against him,” Marcos declared.
He added, “They are too severe, and it is dragging the House in the mud.”
The controversy stems from accusations made by couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, who alleged that both Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez pocketed a 25% kickback from flood control projects—claims both lawmakers have strongly denied.
Malacañang has already emphasized that neither Co nor Romualdez will be spared from the impending investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on the anomalous projects.