While he claims he has “every intention” of coming home, embattled Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co said he is “apprehensive” about returning to the Philippines.
Co made the statement following the revocation of his travel clearance by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, citing safety concerns and what he described as public prejudice against him and his family.
In a letter dated September 25 addressed to Dy, Co acknowledged the directive requiring him to return by September 29, but lamented that the revocation came “without even first requesting for an explanation” from his side.
He claimed that the order has deprived him of the time he needed to complete medical treatment abroad.
“I have every intention of returning to the Philippines. I am also intent on belying the false claims made against me before the proper forum. Yet, I am very much apprehensive about what awaits me should I return to the Philippines given that the public and your good office have prejudged me,” Co wrote.
Co, the former House appropriations chair, is facing mounting allegations of manipulating the national budget through questionable insertions and benefiting from anomalous flood control projects.
The lawmaker stressed that statements made in Congress and the media have already condemned him in the “court of public opinion,” stirring what he called undue hatred against his family.
He cited testimonies and allegations in ongoing flood control corruption inquiries that linked him to budget “insertions” and kickbacks.
Among the claims he sought to refute were accusations that he made unilateral insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act, that his family owned the aircraft used by former president Rodrigo Duterte to fly to The Hague, that he sought fish import allocations through a company allegedly tied to him, and that he received funds from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.
“These are false, baseless, and politically charged statements,” Co said.
The embattled lawmaker maintained that the budget process was collegial and that no evidence directly tied him to alleged irregularities.
He said even the supposed fishing firm cited against him was wrongly attributed, noting that “ZC” stood for Zamboanga City, not his initials.
Co asked for due process upon his eventual return, asking the House leadership to ensure his and his family’s safety amid what he called prejudgment by peers and the public.
“I hope that, when I return to the Philippines, I would be afforded due process and that you would ensure the safety of my family and me,” he added.
Dy’s September 18 order revoked Co’s travel clearance “in the paramount interest of the public” and directed him to return within 10 days.
