MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Elizaldy Co, a representative from the Ako Bicol party-list, has denied the latest allegations made against him in the ongoing Senate blue ribbon committee probe into anomalous infrastructure projects.
The allegations, which relate to kickbacks and budget insertions for flood control projects, have sparked widespread controversy and led to calls for accountability from lawmakers and the public.
Denial of Allegations by Rep. Zaldy Co
In a statement released on Tuesday, Co strongly denied the claims raised against him during the Senate hearing. He labeled them as false and baseless and emphasized that he would address these allegations at the proper forum.
Co did not specify the exact accusations but referred to earlier testimonies by former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara and former assistant engineer Brice Hernandez, who both named him as a key figure in the alleged kickback schemes.
Testimonies Against Rep. Co
According to Alcantara, during his testimony, Co allegedly played a central role in budget insertions for flood control projects. Alcantara claimed that they discussed project plans, and later, six projects totaling P35 billion appeared in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2022.
Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza also accused Co of receiving P1 billion in cash, which was allegedly delivered to his penthouse at the Shangri-La Hotel in Taguig. The accusations were centered around the alleged misuse of government funds.
Co’s Previous Denials and Political Motivation
This is not the first time Rep. Zaldy Co has faced such accusations. Earlier in September, he denied similar kickback allegations made by the Discaya couple, contractors involved in infrastructure projects.
Co labeled their accusations as politically motivated, claiming they were baseless and aimed at misleading the public. The Discaya couple accused several lawmakers, including Co, of asking for a percentage of public funds allocated for infrastructure projects.
New Ethical Violations Allegations
In addition to the corruption allegations, Rep. Zaldy Co is also facing charges of ethical violations. Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco filed a complaint against him before the House Ethics Committee, accusing Co of violating the 1987 Constitution, Republic Act No. 6713 (the Code of Conduct for public officials), and House Rules.
These new allegations have further fueled calls for an investigation into Co’s conduct and actions while in office.
House Leaders Take Action
Following the allegations, Speaker Faustino Dy III took swift action by revoking Rep. Zaldy Co’s travel clearance. Speaker Dy has demanded that Co return to the Philippines within 10 days to address the charges. The House Ethics Committee is expected to take further steps if Co does not comply with the demand for his return.
Conclusion: Investigations and Accountability
Rep. Zaldy Co continues to deny the allegations of kickbacks and budget insertions, and he remains under investigation by both the Senate and the House Ethics Committee.
The ongoing infrastructure corruption scandal has raised significant concerns about the misuse of public funds and the need for transparency and accountability in government projects.
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