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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Up to DOJ, ICI to go after Zaldy Co, says Speaker Dy

Up to DOJ, ICI to go after Zaldy Co, says Speaker Dy

Published Sep 29, 2025 08:16 pm

At A Glance

  • House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III says its now up to authorities like the Department of Justice (DOJ) to go after former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, in the event that he draws charges from the controversies he is allegedly involved in.
House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III (left), ex-Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (PPAB, contributed photo)
House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III (left), ex-Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (PPAB, contributed photo)


House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III says its now up to authorities like the Department of Justice (DOJ) to go after former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, in the event that he draws charges from the controversies he is allegedly involved in.
Dy had this to say Monday night, Sept. 29, just hours after his office formally received Co's resignation as a House of Representatives member.
"Nahain nga ng kanyang resignation (He did file his resignation)," Dy confirmed in an impromptu press conference.
"Kaya ang tingin namin dito ay bahala na ang Department of Justice at ganun din ang ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) kung anong pwede nilang ipataw (So our view here is that it's up to the DOJ and ICI as to what charges they can file)," said the House leader.
"Pero kailangan talagang bumalik siya eh sa lahat ng paraang magawa. Dapat mapabalik siya at mapanagot siya sa mga issues. (But he still needs to come back to the country in any way he can. He should be brought back and made to answer the issues)," Dy underscored.
Dy, who was accompanied in the presser by 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos, also confirmed that House Committee on Ethics and Privileges no longer has any jurisdiction over Co, despite the filing of an ethics complaint against him a few weeks ago.
Abalos chairs the ethics panel.
Co is a central figure in 2025 budget insertions issue and the flood control projects corruption scandal. He was the Committee on Appropriations chairman during the previous 19th Congress.
Co's ex-fellow nominee, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., said a few weeks ago that the former was seeking medication abroad for a heart ailment. Co had a travel clearance from the House, until it was revoked by Dy last Sept. 18.
Dy said that Co never specified the reason for his travel, and only filed a "personal leave".
"Hindi naka-specify doon na medical leave. Kaya hinihiling din namin sana suportahan niya yung sinasabi niyang medical reason na kung bakit hindi siya makauwi. Sana man lang nagbigay siya ng medical certificate o ganun. Wala kaming makita na ganun," said the Isabela 6th district congressman.
(It wasn’t specified there as medical leave. That’s why we’re also asking that he support the medical reason he’s citing for why he can’t come home. We wish he had at least provided a medical certificate or something like that. We haven’t seen anything of the sort.)
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