Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co is now coordinating with his lawyers and is set to address all the allegations against him regarding the flood control scandal and budget insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

RH Milky Rigonan reported on Tuesday, September 23, that Co refuted the allegations made during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, describing them as baseless.

“The allegations made against me during today’s Senate hearing are false and baseless. I reserve my right to respond to these allegations at the proper time before the proper forum,” Co said in a statement.

According to the report, Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin said that the last time he talked to Co was two weeks ago, adding that he believes the latter is still in the United States.

Moreover, the lawmaker said that Co has a scheduled medical check-up in Boston on Wednesday, September 24.

Last week, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III revoked Co’s travel clearance, ordering the latter to return to the Philippines within 10 days. This means that Co only has until September 28 before the given deadline.

Meanwhile, House Ethics Committee Chairman and 4P’s Partylist Rep. JC Abalos said that they would give Co a chance to explain. In addition, Abalos said they had already asked Dy for permission to investigate the matter.

“‘Yung tamang venue po for any complaints ay para po dyan sa Committee on Ethics, and in any case kung ano po ‘yung magiging recommendations ng committee, ‘yan po ay i-rereport po sa plenaryo, and the recommended disciplinary action is always up to the plenary as a whole,” Abalos said.

“Napaka halaga po na i-uphold natin ‘yung impartiality ng ating committee, and we must only act on verified complaints substantiated by evidence na ipe-present na sa aming committee,” he added.

On Tuesday, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco filed an ethics complaint against Co, citing the alleged budget insertions in the 2025 GAA).