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Elizaldy Co quits House on Speaker Dy’s deadline for his return

September 29, 2025 | 4:13pm

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:19 p.m.) — Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol Party-list) has resigned as a member of the House of Representatives, citing grave and imminent threats to his and his family's lives while the government tracks him down and investigates the alleged corruption tied to his name.

In a letter to House Speaker Bojie Dy on Monday, September 29, Co claimed he was being denied his right to due process, prompting him to resign immediately and irrevocably.

"On account of the real, direct, grave and imminent threat to the lives of my family members and me, and the evident denial of my right to due process of law, I am constrained to tender with immediate effect my irrevocable resignation as a member of the House of Representatives," the letter read.

The letter came moments after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure recommended in its initial report to the Ombudsman that cases be filed against Co over a P289.5 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

It was also sent on the same day Dy's 10-day deadline for Co to return to the Philippines expired, after the speaker revoked his travel clearance.

Co's travels. Co has been absent since the 20th Congress convened, leaving the country to reportedly seek medical treatment in the United States. Responding to Dy's order, he said in a letter dated September 25 that he has every intention of returning to the Philippines.

The embattled lawmaker criticized the return order, saying it deprives him of the medical care he needs.

Dy, however, has since argued that his immediate return is crucial for the allegations raised against him to be raised at the proper forum — such as the ethics committee.

Co was supposed to face an ethics complaint filed by Rep. Toby Tiangco (Navotas, Lone District) on September 23. But due to his "irrevocable" resignation, this raises the question whether or not the House still has jurisdiction to take up the case.

Can the House still probe him?

In the complaint, Tiangco accused Co of manipulating the budget through last-minute and individual insertions in the 2025 budget and of violating the public officials' code of conduct and ethical standards.

Apart from the budget insertions, however, Co also faces claims of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects, with several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials citing his name.

Tiangco cited Co's ties to top flood control contractor Sunwest Inc., his family's "ostentatious display of wealth," and the lack of a medical certificate justifying his travel.

But Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno (Antipolo, 1st District), one of the lawmakers who blamed Co for the budget controversies, told Philstar.com that the ethics committee no longer has jurisdiction over Co after his resignation.

"Private citizen na siya," he said in a message.

Asked if this meant any cases against him would be left to the Department of Justice (DOJ) or Ombudsman, Puno said it could be one of them or both.

Co's arguments

Co called all of these "baseless." He first argued that all items in the 2025 General Appropriations Act "were approved at plenary sessions," saying he could not have made any insertions without "the knowledge or approval of the members of both chambers of Congress."

According to House Journal 28, after the bicameral conference committee, the House ratified the 2025 budget report through viva voce voting, with no objections.

However, when the bill was on third reading, only three lawmakers, the Makabayan bloc of the 19th Congress, opposed the bill in the House.

Co also insisted that it is "premature" for Tiangco to make such claims when there are cases pending before the Supreme Court and Ombudsman concerning the 2025 GAA's constitutionality.

On the issue of the medical certificate, Co said he had never been asked to submit one, even when filing for a leave of absence or a travel order in the past.

Despite reporters asking about his health in the interest of public transparency, the letter did not specify his condition. Co only said he has been consulting doctors abroad since mid-2024.

Although some of his relatives, such as niece Claudine Co, have shared vlogs showcasing a lavish lifestyle, Co insisted that his family has not made any "extravagant or ostentatious" display of wealth to the public.

"Our lifestyles have not changed from before I became a public official up to now," he said. "My family and I do not also live beyond our means."

He made this claim despite owning air assets valued at P4.7 billion for 11 aircraft, which the DPWH has recommended be frozen, given the ongoing probes.

On potentially having any financial interest due to his ties to Sunwest Inc, which he co-founded but reportedly divested from, Co said he does not have any "from infrastructure projects awarded" to the firm.

Co has also taken a leave of absence from Ako Bicol Party-list to face the accusations. A substitute nominee is expected to take on his position after his resignation.