Zaldy Co's replacement assumes post today

The substitute for resigned congressman Zaldy Co is expected to join the House of Representatives today once sessions resume in Congress after a month-long Undas break.

- By DELON PORCALLA

Co’s post as first nominee of party-list Ako Bicol will be taken over by his longtime colleague, Alfredo Garbin Jr., while third nominee Jan Almario Chan will take the place of Garbin, pursuant to the line of succession and protocol of the party-list organization.

Co, now in hiding, was forced to relinquish his post last September following allegations of massive corruption, by way of alleged insertions in the 2025 national budget, as well as alleged links to Sunwest Corp., a construction company contractor in the multibillion-peso flood control projects nationwide.

He was also forced to step down after Speaker Faustino Dy III issued a 10-day ultimatum, when he was also facing an administrative suit before the House ethics committee that was supposed to suspend and possibly expel him for defying the House leadership.