Rep. Zaldy Co Out as Appropriations Panel Chairman

In a surprising move, the lawmaker-son of President Marcos yesterday moved to declare the position of chairman of the committee on appropriations of the House of Representatives vacant, just as Congress resumed session after a month-long holiday break.

- By DELON PORCALLA

No objections were heard when House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, of the first district of Ilocos Norte, declared the powerful committee vacant, which was led by Rep. Zaldy Co of the Ako Bicol party-list since July 2022.

There were speculations that Co had displeased the President, which could have been the reason why it was the younger Marcos who made the move to strip him of the post.

No replacement for Co had been named, as of last night's plenary deliberations.

Sources say, however, that Co’s successor may be someone close to Marcos, a neophyte or first-term congressman who underwent onthe-job training in his uncle’s office prior to 2022.

Meantime, Co extended his “heartfelt gratitude” to his House colleagues for “graciously accepting my decision to step down.”