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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Vehicle of abuse?' Frasco says Zaldy Co's Ako Bicol Party-list should be probed, too

'Vehicle of abuse?' Frasco says Zaldy Co's Ako Bicol Party-list should be probed, too

Published Sep 30, 2025 04:19 pm

At A Glance

  • Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco is calling for an investigation on Ako Bicol Party-list, the party-list of recently resigned congressman Zaldy Co.
Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco (left), former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Facebook, PPAB)
Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco (left), former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Facebook, PPAB)


Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco is calling for an investigation on Ako Bicol Party-list, the party-list of recently resigned congressman Zaldy Co.
"Accountability must extend beyond individuals. If consequences are limited only to a nominee, Congress sets a dangerous precedent: that members can violate rules, resign to avoid expulsion, and leave their party untouched," Frasco said in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 30.
"To protect the integrity of our institutions, Ako Bicol Party-list must face investigation, sanction, and, if warranted, disqualification," reckoned the Cebuano.
Co, a former Committee on Appropriations chairman, is a central figure in the alleged "insertions" to the 2025 national budget and the flood control projects corruption scandal.
On Monday afternoon, Co, currently abroad, resigned as a House member. With his departure, the next nominee from Ako Bicol is expected to fill up his seat in the legislative chamber.
"The resignation of Cong. Zaldy Co should [neither], and cannot, erase his crimes, nor absolve Ako Bicol Party-list, the vehicle through which these abuses were committed," Frasco underscored.
The former deputy speaker then quoted Section 141 (h) of the House Rules, which said “A Member shall not acquire or receive any personal pecuniary interest in any specific business enterprise which will be directly and particularly favored or benefited by any law or resolution authored by the Member that is approved or adopted by Congress during the Member’s term.”
Frasco asded: "Yet as a shareholder of construction firms that secured contracts funded by the GAA, and as co-conspirator in the insertion of billions for projects that benefited himself and his cohorts, Co clearly breached this rule, among other existing laws."
The GAA refers to the General Appropriations Act or the annual enacted budget. In the House, the appropriations committee oversees the passage of the budget measure.
Co is the founder of construction firm Sunwest Inc.
"Resignation spared Co from sanction by the House, but it also exposed the weakness of our system. 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.
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