MANILA, Philippines – “Accountability must extend beyond individuals.”
Ito ang pahayag ni Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco kasabay ng panawagan na dapat ding imbestigahan ang Ako Bicol Party-list, ang kinatawan ng nagbitiw na mambabatas na si Zaldy Co.
Matatandaang si Co ay nagbitiw bilang nominee ng Ako Bicol Party-list sa ilalim ng 20th Congress upang maiwasan umanong mapabalik sa Kamara sa gitna ng kontrobersiya.
Giit ni Frasco, hindi lamang si Co ang dapat papanagutin kundi pati ang party-list na aniya’y ginamit bilang “behikulo” sa mga iregularidad.
“If consequences are limited only to a nominee, Congress sets a dangerous precedent: that members can violate rules, resign to avoid expulsion, and leave their party untouched. To protect the integrity of our institutions, Ako Bicol Party-list must face investigation, sanction, and, if warranted, disqualification,” paliwanag ni Frasco.
“The resignation of Cong. Zaldy Co should neither, and cannot, erase his crimes, nor absolve Ako Bicol Party-list — the vehicle through which these abuses were committed,” dagdag pa niya.
Ipinaliwanag ng mambabatas na malinaw sa Section 141 ng House Rules na bawal sa sinumang miyembro ng Kongreso ang magkaroon ng interes sa negosyo o makinabang sa anumang batas o regulasyon na siya mismo ang may-akda.
Si Co, na dating House Appropriations Committee Chairman, ay nasangkot sa kontrobersyal na bilyong pisong “insertions” sa 2025 national budget. Siya rin ang founder ng Sunwest Inc., isa sa mga construction firm na nakakuha ng bilyong halaga ng proyekto sa flood control at infrastructure funds.
“Yet as a shareholder of construction firms that secured contracts funded by the GAA, and as co-conspirator in the insertion of billions for projects that benefited himself and his cohorts, Co clearly breached this rule, among other existing laws,” ani Frasco.
Binigyang-diin pa ng kongresista na kahit nagbitiw si Co, hindi ito dapat maging daan para makaiwas sa pananagutan.
“While Co walks away, his conduit, Ako Bicol Party-list, keeps its seat, benefits, and power as if nothing happened. This is not accountability. This is impunity,” pagtatapos ni Frasco. Gail Mendoza
