House Speaker Bojie Revokes Travel Clearance of Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co amid the Flood Control Issue
ZALDY CO – The House member is ordered to immediately return to the Philippines amid the accusation linking him to the flood control mess.
The Discaya couple claimed during a Senate flood probe that several officials of the government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects. Pacifico and Sarah Discaya named Quezon City Congressman Arjo Atayde, Pasig Cong. Roman Romulo, and Marikina Cong. Marcy Teodoro.
The controversial contractors also claimed that then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co are allegedly receiving kickbacks from the flood control projects funded by the government. Romualdez and Co allegedly get a 30% kickback.
However, when the accusation was made, Co was reportedly in abroad already. He’s in the United States for medical treatment. He denied the allegations against him.
Presidential cousin and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House Speaker. According to him, his resignation is in line with the pursuit to give the Independent Commission on Infrastructure the opportunity to freely and fully exercise their mandate.
Following Romualdez’s resignation from the top post in the House of Representatives, Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy was elected as the new House Speaker. Dy was backed by Romualdez who reportedly called for a meeting to inform the House leaders about his resignation and asked them to support Dy.
Recently, based on a post of ABS-CBN News, newly-elected House Speaker Bojie Dy revoked the travel clearance of Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co amid the accusations linking him to the flood control corruption. His travel clearance was ordered “revoked effective immediately”.
“This revocation is issued in the paramount interest of the public and due to the existence of pressing national matters requiring your physical presence,” the order stated.
Rep. Zaldy Co is ordered to return to the Philippines immediately within 10 calendar days since his receipt of the notice sent by the House of Representatives. Based on the post, failure to comply to the order may result to legal actions against the House member.
Amid the flood control issue in the country, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte stressed that Pres. Marcos Jr. should not allow the congressmen to just go abroad or resign from their position to “evade accountability”.