MANILA — Malacañang has urged former Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co to publicly confront the corruption allegations against him, stressing that his resignation from Congress does not exempt him from accountability over controversial flood control projects.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Tuesday said the public deserves to hear Co’s side amid mounting scrutiny.
“Mas mainam na maipaliwanag ang kanyang side,” Castro said, adding that the former congressman cannot simply turn away from the accusations.
Co stepped down from his seat in the House of Representatives on Monday following reports linking him to alleged irregularities in infrastructure spending, including supposed budget insertions.
In his resignation letter to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, Co maintained that the allegations were fabricated.
“All I can tell you now is that the accusations being made against me are false. In due time, I will give my statements on the matter. At present, I can only stay silent to protect my family and myself. We are in grave danger,” he wrote.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) earlier endorsed to the Ombudsman the possible filing of graft, malversation, and falsification complaints against Co and several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in Oriental Mindoro.
At the center of the probe is the ₱289.5-million road dike project along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, undertaken by Sunwest Inc., a contractor allegedly tied to Co. ICI executive director Brian Hosaka noted the project was overseen by the DPWH Region IV-B office.
While denying pocketing public funds, Co has said he intends to return to the country to clear his name.
Meanwhile, the DPWH has asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze ₱4.3 billion worth of aircraft and related assets linked to Co and his family as part of a broader crackdown on alleged ill-gotten wealth./PN
