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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Zaldy Co denies Tiangco's claim of 'ostentatious display of wealth'

Zaldy Co denies Tiangco's claim of 'ostentatious display of wealth'

Published Sep 30, 2025 10:19 am  |  Updated Sep 30, 2025 01:00 pm

At A Glance

  • Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has denied that his family engages in opulent displays of wealth, as claimed by Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco in his ethics complaint.
Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (left), Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (Contributed photo, Facebook)
Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (left), Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (Contributed photo, Facebook)


Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has denied that his family engages in opulent displays of wealth, as claimed by Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco in his ethics complaint.
"I deny that my family and I indulge 'in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in the eye of the public'," the ex-congressman said, quoting Tiangco’s complaint against him.
"Our lifestyles have not changed from before I became a public ofticial up to now," continued Co in a letter addressed to both House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III and Committee on Ethics and Privileges Chairman 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos.
"My wife and children keep away firom the media and they certainly do not dlisplay what we own to thc public. While I do have postings through media, these are focused on the various projects of the Aka Bicol Party-list," Co noted.
"My family and I do not also live beyond our means," added the former Committee on Appropriations chairman, who is out of the country.
In the same letter dated Monday Sept. 29, Co tendered his resignation as a member of the House of Representatives. With this, Tiangco's ethics complaint is rendered moot and academic.
Medical certificates
Co was earlier granted a travel clearance by the House as he sought medication abroad for a heart ailment. This travel clearance was revoked by Dy last Sept. 18.
In his letter, Co insisted that he didn't need to produce medical certificates to justify his leave of absence.
"At the outset, there is no requirement for me to submit medical certificates when applying for a leave of absence. As, in fact, my requests for leave and travel orders have been approved in the past by the House of Representatives without my having to submit medical certificates," he noted.
"In any event, I have been consulting doctors abroad since mid-2024 and have been continuing to consult with them," he revealed.
Co also said that even if he wasn't physically present at the House of Representatives, he was still able "to render public servicc remotely".
The controversial Bicolano is being accused of facilitating "insertions" in the 2025 national budget as well as receiving kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
Tiangco, for his part, says Co still needs to come home to the Philippines.
"Let me be clear: Congressman Zaldy Co’s resignation is not enough. Resignation is not accountability. What the Filipino people deserve is for him to face the music—umuwi siya dito sa Pilipinas, para sagutin ang lahat ng paratang sa kanya (he must come home to the Philippines and answer all the allegations against him)," he said.
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