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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace to Zaldy Co: Explain your side

Palace to Zaldy Co: Explain your side

Published Sep 30, 2025 01:08 pm
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Facebook)
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Facebook)
It is better for resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to explain his side amid allegations against him in relation to 2025 budget insertions and the flood control project anomalies, Malacañang said.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement on Tuesday, Sept. 30, stressing that Co, who is currently abroad, must answer to the allegations linking him to corruption.
Castro said his name being mentioned multiple times in the ongoing inquiries on flood control mess in the Senate and House of Representatives must compel him to explain his side, because by not doing so, "he will only appear guilty."
"Kung nababanggit ang kanyang pangalan, definitely dapat niya po itong sagutin dahil kung hindi niya po ito masasagot at iiwasan niya lalabas lamang po siyang guilty (If his name is mentioned, he definitely has to respond to it, because if he does not address it and chooses to evade it, he will only appear guilty)," Castro said.
"So, mas mainam lamang po na maipaliwanag niya ang kanyang side (So it is much better for him to explain his side)," she added.
Co, who has been abroad since early September due to medical treatment, has also resigned as a member of the House of Representatives on Monday. A blue notice has been requested by the government before the Interpol to gain information on his whereabouts.
The Palace press officer pointed out that while no one can stop Co from making that decision, he will not be able to run away if a case against him is filed.
Castro advised him to fight for his right and the truth based on his evidence.
"Sa pangyayari pong iyan, kung nag-resign po siya, 'yan naman po ay kanyang kagustuhan. Walang makakapigil sa kanyang mga desisyon, ngunit kung magkakaroon man siya ng kaso at maisasampa, hindi niya po ito maiiwasan (In that situation, if he resigned, that is his choice. No one can stop him from making his own decisions. However, if a case is filed against him, he will not be able to avoid it or run from it)," Castro said.
"Hindi niya po ito matatakbuhan. So, mas maganda po dito, kung siya man po ay masasampahan ng kaso, ipaglaban na lang niya ang kanyang karapatan at ipaglaban ang katotohanan na naaayon sa kanyang mga ebidensya (So, it would be better that if he is charged, he should simply fight for his rights and for the truth in accordance with his evidence)," Castro added.
Co has been tagged by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office Head Henry Alcantara into a multibillion-peso kickback from infrastructure funds.
Alcantara also linked Co to massive allocations in Bulacan from 2022 to 2025, totaling 426 projects worth ₱35.024 billion.
He detailed how Co’s proponents’ shares rose from 20 percent in 2022 to 25 percent in later years, depending on whether projects were inserted through the National Expenditure Program (NEP), Bicam, or Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA).

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Zaldy Co flood control corruption flood control mess Claire Castro
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