Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co reportedly flew from Dubai to Madrid, Spain, on September 24, amid allegations of pocketing billions from ghost and overpriced flood control projects.
According to flight records from a reliable source in the Bureau of Immigration, Co departed Dubai at 8:05 a.m. and is scheduled to arrive at Madrid Airport at 7:20 p.m. Manila time.
Prior to his Dubai trip, Co was in Singapore, where he spent some time before traveling to Dubai. He also visited New York City from August 26 to September 13, raising questions about his availability during the ongoing investigation.
On September 18, House Speaker Faustino ‘‘Bojie’’ Dy III revoked the lawmaker’s travel clearance and ordered him to return to the Philippines within 10 days.
To recall, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara said Co allegedly received kickbacks of 20 to 25 percent from multibillion-peso flood control allocations.
On Tuesday, September 23, Co denied the allegations raised against him, calling them ‘‘false and baseless.’’
The House leadership is under pressure to hold Co accountable, with opposition lawmakers urging the chamber to immediately act on the flood control scam controversy. Lawmakers stressed that allowing Co to leave the country despite mounting allegations could undermine the integrity of the House investigation.
It was also reported that civil society groups have started calling for Co’s preventive suspension, warning that his continued absence from Congress erodes public trust and hampers efforts to seek accountability in the alleged misuse of flood control funds.
