Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co finds himself caught between two battles: the need to undergo medical treatment abroad and the storm of allegations linking him to one of the most explosive corruption scandals in recent memory.
In a strongly worded letter to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, Co lamented the sudden cancellation of his travel authority, describing it as both unjust and politically motivated. Released Friday by his office, the letter framed the revocation as not just a personal blow but a warning sign of a Congress quick to prejudge one of its own.
“I was deprived of the chance to explain my side before my travel clearance was revoked,” Co wrote, insisting that his trip had long been scheduled for medical purposes. He underscored his intent to return and face the accusations, but voiced fears of what awaits him back home.
From medical leave to political theater
The lawmaker’s insistence on due process comes as his name repeatedly surfaces in explosive testimonies at both the Senate and House inquiries into the flood-control kickback scheme. Contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, now infamous for exposing a web of payoffs and padded contracts, alleged that Co, along with other legislators, demanded hefty cuts in exchange for approving public works projects.
Curlee Discaya even claimed that Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez were linked to a 25-percent cut from contractors’ projects—an accusation both have flatly denied. Yet, the allegations stuck, fueling public outrage and political intrigue.
Speaker Dy’s hardline stand
Newly-installed Speaker Dy, however, was unbending. On September 18, he revoked Co’s travel authority and ordered him to return to the Philippines within 10 days. Dy’s camp insisted that lawmakers under a cloud of suspicion cannot be seen vacationing—or seeking refuge—abroad while congressional probes heat up.
The move effectively cornered Co: return to Manila and face the ethics machinery of the House, or remain abroad and risk being painted as a fugitive legislator.
Mounting cases and public pressure
As if Senate revelations weren’t enough, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco lodged a formal complaint before the House ethics committee earlier this week. His filing accused Co of three violations: breaching the Constitution, disregarding the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, and violating House rules.
This marks a turning point. What started as whispers in committee hearings has now transformed into a formal ethics case—one that could strip Co not only of travel privileges but potentially of his seat in Congress.
The broader stakes
Co continues to deny all allegations: from supposed “insertions” in the 2025 budget, to ownership of an aircraft allegedly used by former president Rodrigo Duterte, to fishing import allocations under a company linked to his name, to claims of DPWH kickbacks. In his letter, he dismissed the charges as “baseless, false, and politically charged.”
But whether the case is a politically orchestrated takedown or a genuine reckoning for systemic corruption, one thing is clear: the scandal has shaken the foundations of the House. Dy’s decision to clamp down on Co signals a new leadership eager to show it can police its own ranks.
For Co, the battle is no longer just about medical leave. It has become a high-stakes fight to salvage his credibility, defend his family’s name, and cling to his political career—all while under the shadow of a corruption probe that refuses to fade.