House of Representative Spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante disclosed that Ako Bicol party-list Rep. and former House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Zaldy Co is in the United States for “medical treatment.”

“Sa pagkakaalam ko, he is currently out of the country. Nasa United States siya for medical treatment with appropriate travel documents,” Abante said in a press conference on Thursday.

She did not give further details on Co’s travel period.

Abante issued statement following the motion of Caloocan 2^nd District Representative and House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erice to invite Co and former Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Grace Poe to the House Infra Committee to determine why the proposed 2025 budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways increased by more than P100 billion compared to the proposal under the National Expenditure Program.

Meanwhile, Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco accused Co of inserting P13.8 billion in the bicam version of the 2025 budget.

Since the 20th Congress opened last July 28, House journals showed that Co was absent without notice in four session days, absent with notice once, and was attending committee meetings in four session days.

·         July 28 – absent without notice

·         July 29-30 – absent with notice

·         August 4 – absent without notice

·         August 5 – absent without notice

·         August 6 – absent without notice

·         August 11-13 – attended committee meetings

·         August 18 and 20 – attended committee meetings

·         August 26 – attended committee meetings

·         August 27 – attended committee meetings

Erice had appealed to his colleagues at the House Infrastructure Committee “not to protect” anybody.