Ako-Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co’s resignation from the House of Representatives has left lawmakers surprised as the ethics committee was preparing to act on complaints against him.
The move has raised questions over the timing of his resignation and the status of ongoing investigations.
“Kaming lahat ay nabigla sapagkat ang usapan nga… by tomorrow (Sept. 30) ay i-aaddress na ng kanyang committee at ang next step namin eh sana ay isuspend namin si Cong. Zaldy Co… Pero naghain nga [siya] ng kanyang resignation kaya ang tingin namin dito ay bahala na ang Department of Justice at ganun din ang ICI kung anong pwede nilang ipataw,” House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said.
Dy said Co had not communicated directly with House leadership, despite repeated attempts to reach him through other lawmakers.
“Wala… Sinubukan namin through Congressman Pido Garbin na kung maaari makipagcommunicate sa amin… kasi nagbigay siya ng mga sulat sa amin na sinasabi niya na may mga medical reason na kung bakit hindi siya makauwi,” Dy explained.
The Speaker noted that Co applied for personal leave, not medical leave, and did not provide supporting documentation.
“Ang inapplyan niyang leave sa Secretary General ay personal leave… Sana man lang nagbigay ng medical certificate. Wala kaming nakikita na ganon kaya binigyan namin talaga siya ng deadline na kailangan umuwi siya by all means nitong September 29,” he added.
On Co’s replacement as chair of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, Dy explained that Nueva Ecija Representative Mika Suansing has been designated.
“Meron tayong bagong chairperson… pero as far as kung mapapalitan ba siya [Zaldy Co] kasi partylist, Ako-Bicol partylist ‘yong kanyang [partido] wala pang nauusapan tungkol diyan,” Dy said.
Dy emphasized that Co’s resignation will still be formally manifested before the plenary.
“I think imamanifest… Ngayon ang priority ng congress ay maipasa ang malinis na budget para ito ay maidala na natin sa senado at paguusapan pa ng House leadership kung ano ang magigising pasiya tungkol dito sa developments sa pagreresign ni Congressman Zaldy Co,” he said.
Lawmakers futher stressed that resignation does not absolve Co of accountability.
“‘Yong evasion of accountability wala naman ‘yan kung miyembro ka ng house o hindi… anyone can still file a civil or criminal case against any member or against any former member of the house of representatives. Kaya kahit na nag-resign si former cong. Zaldy Co that doesn’t exempt him from accountability,” Rep. JC Abalos said.
Abalos added that members of the House have the constitutional right to resign but it does not excuse him from the gravity of allegations towards him.
“Nakalagay rin sa ating constitution na pinagbabawal ang involuntary servitude. So, kung meron tayong miyembro ng house na tingin po niya ayaw na niyang magsilbi bilang katawan ng kongreso, wala pong pumipigil sa kanya sa paghintulot sa kanyang trabaho kung ayaw na niya,” he explained.
