The problems keep on piling against Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

This, after Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco announced on Tuesday, Sept. 23 that he intended to file an ethics complaint against the former House Committee on Appropriations chairman.

In an interview with House of Representatives reporters, Tiangco raised the matter of the missing records of the small committee during the 2025 national budget process, the alleged budget insertions, and Co's supposed financial interest in Sunwest Inc., as grounds for the ethics case.

Sunwest Inc. was among the contractors linked to anomalous flood control projects.

Tiangco said his camp would file the ethics complaint Tuesday.

“Mayroon na kasi akong na-prepare kahapon na ethics complaint, which will be filed today. Tapos magpa-file din ako ng supplementary kasi yung kahapon na prinipare ko, hindi ko pa alam yung testimony ngayon sa Senate," the majority solon said.

(Yesterday, I prepared an ethics complaint, which will be filed today. Then I will also file a supplementary because when I prepared the complaint yesterday, I didn't know the testimony today at the Senate.)

Tiangco was referring to the latest developments at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Tuesday, wherein former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Henry Alcantara alleged that Co received a "cut" from government-funded flood control projects in Bulacan.

The supplementary filing will be about the Senate testimony, Tiangco said.

According to the Navotas lawmaker, Alcantara basically confirmed that proponents of budget insertions received kickbacks.

“Bakit ko ba pinipilit yung P13.8 billion insertion niya, di ba? Bakit ba paulit-ulit pinipilit yan. Kasi ang punto ko nun for that insertion may kapalit yun, open secret naman yung 20 percent. Hindi ko lang masabi at that time kasi ano yung pwede kong sabihin na proof, pero alam ko yan naririnig ko yan, eh di parang nagtsi-tsismis nun di ba?” he said.

(Why do I keep insisting on his ₱13.8 billion insertion, right? Why do I keep insisting on it? Because my point was, that insertion came with something in return—it’s an open secret, the 20 percent. I just couldn’t say it at the time because what proof could I present, But I knew it, I heard it, so it would’ve sounded like gossip, right?)

“Pero at least it's already directly linked na kaya nagi-insert. Yun na yung sinabi ni Alcantara, pag na insert yan may 20 to 25 percent, di ba? So direct link na yung insertion, di ba?” Tiangco pointed out.

(But at least it’s now directly linked, that’s why insertions are made. That’s what Alcantara said, when something gets inserted, there’s a 20 to 25 percent cut, right? So the insertion is now directly linked, isn’t it?)

Tiangco has been taking Co to task since the start of the 20th Congress. He believes that the Bicolano has all the answers to the budget insertion controversy, which came out following the enactment of current P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025.

Co recently had his travel clearance revoked by the House leadership and was instructed to return immediately. He reportedly has a heart ailment and is seeking medication abroad.

Asked what kind of sanction he wants imposed on Co, Tiangco said, “It’s up to the Committee on Ethics to determine the sanction.”

The committee is chaired by 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos.