Ethics raps filed: Tiangco accuses Co of 'masterminding' budget diversions
MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Toby Tiangco (Navotas, Lone District) has filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Elizaldy Co, accusing him of “masterminding” the last-minute budget insertions and of potentially benefiting from his ties to government contractors.
The complaint, filed before the House ethics committee on Tuesday, September 23, enumerated three violations Co allegedly committed as a public officer.
First, Tiangco blamed Co for simply allowing, or even authorizing, the huge changes in the 2025 national budget as the former appropriations chair, branding this as a betrayal of public trust.
“He masterminded, tolerated, and deliberately allowed last-minute insertions and realignments,” the complaint read, citing how this year’s budget has been described as the “most scandalous” and “corrupt.”
Budget insertions
Since Co was a member of the House small committee and bicameral conference committee, where institutional amendments were made behind closed doors, Tiangco said he would be liable for the alleged diversions that took place in these two committees.
“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 field at the Archives of the House of Representatives,” Tiangco said.
“They remain as secrets and puzzles only Representative Co can explain,” he added.
According to Tiangco’s findings, Co allegedly served as the proponent of P13.8 billion in budget insertions where several congressional districts saw huge increases.
In the Senate’s flood control probe, sacked Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara said Co made a total of P35 billion in budget insertions from 2022 to 2025 through the province's projects. He allegedly sought 20% in kickbacks.
Co, however, denied the allegations, even calling them “baseless.”
“The allegations made against me during today’s Senate hearing are false and baseless. I reserve my right to respond to these allegations at the proper time before the proper forum,” he told reporters in a message.
Co’s leave unjustified
Co has also been absent in the lower chamber since the 20th Congress convened on July 28. He has not filed any bills or resolutions.
It was only in recent weeks that the public learned about Co’s trip to the United States for medical treatment — travel that the House allowed.
Tiangco, however, said Co did not submit any medical certificate to the House, rendering his travel unjustified.
Other than his trip, Tiangco also took a swipe at Co and his family’s “ostentatious display of wealth,” saying the law requires public officials and their families to live “modest lives.”
These, he added, violate Section 4 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
RELATED: 7 vans of P1 billion in cash delivered to Zaldy Co – ex-DPWH engineer
Co’s ties to Sunwest Inc.
The third violation Tiangco cited is the clear conflict of interest that Co has as a public officer, given his familial ties to government contractors actively bagging multi-billion-peso contracts.
He said this does not align with House rules, which mandate legislators to be free of any “pecuniary interest” in any business, whether directly or indirectly.
Co co-founded Sunwest Inc., a construction firm that reportedly won P86.07 billion worth of public infrastructure deals from 2016 to 2025. It is also one of the top flood control contractors from 2022 to 2025.
While Co divested from the firm, reports show that he still has some connections with Sunwest Inc. He is also a brother to a co-founder of Hi-Tone Construction Corp, another top contractor.
“Based from the foregoing, Representative Co could have acquired and received personal pecuniary interest during his incumbency as member of the House of Representatives,” Tiangco said.
All eyes on Co
Since House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III took the helm, his first order was to revoke Co's travel clearance, compelling the lawmaker to return to the Philippines in 10 days.
Co reaching the ethics committee, however, is no surprise. Since Rep. Martin Romualdez stepped down, more lawmakers from the majority bloc have suggested the possibility of getting Co to return through the committee.
House Majority Sandro Marcos said there is already a precedent to Co’s situation, citing former Rep. Arnie Teves’ case, who also faced the ethics committee before expulsion.
Expulsion, however, is the most severe disciplinary action that needs to be voted upon by two-thirds of the House. Another possible punishment could be a suspension.
During the Senate’s Tuesday hearing, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla announced that the National Bureau of Investigation will be filing bribery and malversation charges against Co and two other senators.
RELATED: Bribery, malversation: Villanueva, Estrada, Co to face charges in flood control scandal
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