Former House appropriations chairman and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is reportedly in the United States for medical treatment amid ongoing investigations into alleged spurious insertions in the 2025 national budget.
Lawmakers continue to press for his presence to explain the inclusion of questionable flood control projects and the involvement of Sunwest Construction and Development Corp.
Critics, including Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, accuse Co of benefiting from a P39-billion alleged insertion affecting two districts.
Despite calls from opposition lawmakers to summon him, administration representatives have objected, leading to a partisan clash over the budget probes.
Meanwhile, Co maintains he divested from Sunwest Construction in 2019, and some lawmakers warn that failure to disclose conflicts of interest could result in sanctions.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 5, 2025
