Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco has filed an ethics complaint against Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, accusing him of violating the Constitution, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and House Rules.
The complaint, dated September 22, 2025, was submitted to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by Rep. Jonathan Clement Abalos.
Tiangco said the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) became “the most scandalous, corrupt, and highly irregular budget,” claiming Co “masterminded, tolerated, and deliberately allowed last-minute insertions and realignments” when he was chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.
He pointed out that “the justification for these acts remain a mystery to every member because the Small Committee had no Committee reports, minutes of meeting, or any written explanation filed at the Archives of the House of Representatives.”
The complaint emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “blatantly condemned such act,” describing the insertions as moves that bypassed priority projects and raised “serious doubts on the legitimacy of purpose.” Tiangco said, “The public’s demand to hold liable those responsible for the insertions remains a roaring outcry… However, Representative Co remains silent and beyond reach.”
Tiangco also questioned Co’s attendance record, noting that “no copy of his medical certificates has been submitted to the House and to the public. Consequently, his absence remained unsubstantiated.”
He argued this violated the Code of Conduct, which requires officials to discharge their duties with excellence and dedication.
The complaint further cited possible conflicts of interest, pointing to records from the Department of Public Works and Highways that Sunwest Inc. — a company linked to Co — and its joint ventures secured ₱86.1 billion worth of government contracts from 2016 to July 2025. Nearly half of these, or ₱40.2 billion, were awarded in Bicol, Co’s home region.
Tiangco argued that this showed Co “could have acquired and received personal pecuniary interest during his incumbency as member of the House of Representatives.”
Cong. Tiangco said he hopes the Ethics Committee imposes penalties or sanctions commensurate to Co’s conduct.
