Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. punched holes into Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco's assertion on Tuesday, Sept. 30 that the party-list deserves to be investigated alongside its resigned nominee, Zaldy Co.

In a statement, Garbin flagged Frasco for his "attempt to conflate Zaldy Co’s personal accountability with that of Ako Bicol Party-list".

"The Party-list System Act clearly defines party-list organizations as separate juridical entities from their nominees," lawyer-solon Garbin said.

"To punish Ako Bicol for unproven allegations against one nominee would not only contravene the principle of separate juridical personality but disenfranchise the millions of Bicolanos who vested their trust in Ako Bicol," he noted.

On Monday, the controversial Co--arguably the most "wanted" person in the House due to his alleged involvement in the budget insertion and flood control projects controversies--resigned as a congressman.

"While Co walks away, his conduit, Ako Bicol Party-list, keeps its seat, benefits, and power as if nothing happened. This is not accountability. This is impunity," Frasco said.

To this, Garbin said: "Alleging 'impunity' on the part of Former Representative Zaldy Co and the Ako Bicol Party-list rests on conjecture rather than fact."

"At the outset, it must be emphasized that these are mere allegations — no criminal or administrative case has been filed, much less adjudicated, before any competent court or tribunal," he said.

Garbin went on to extol his former co-nominee for choosing to resign. "Morally, Zaldy Co’s act of resignation is not an abandonment, but a sacrifice."

"It demonstrates respect for institutional integrity, allowing investigations to proceed free of any suspicion of undue influence. Practically, it ensures that legislative work continues unhampered, as Ako Bicol remains steadfast in serving its constituents."

"To portray this as 'impunity' is to twist an act of humility into an act of arrogance," Garbin said in an obvious shot at the Cebuano.

And Garbin wasn't done yet.

"Finally, accountability is not advanced by reckless public condemnation but by adherence to process, evidence, and fairness. The press release (Frasco's) is quick to assign guilt but slow to acknowledge the safeguards of law," he said.

"As the second nominee of Ako Bicol, I assert that resignation does not shield, the Party-list remains untainted, and justice — not political noise — will determine the truth. What sets a dangerous precedent is not Zaldy Co’s resignation, but the readiness of some to equate allegation with conviction," he further said.