

Newly elected House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has revoked the travel clearance of Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, ordering him to return to the Philippines within ten days.
In a letter dated September 18 and released to the media on Friday, Dy cited pressing national matters requiring Co’s physical presence as the reason for the revocation, emphasizing that the decision was made in the “paramount interest of the public.”
“In the exigency of service, you are hereby directed to return to the Philippines within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of this notice. Your immediate return is necessary to address the aforementioned matters with urgency,” the letter reads.
The House Speaker warned that failure to comply within the prescribed timeframe will be deemed a refusal to adhere to the "lawful processes of the House of Representatives and may result in the initiation of appropriate disciplinary and legal action."
Co has reportedly been in the United States for medical treatment for his heart ailment, according to Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr.
He faces allegations of manipulating the budget through insertions during his tenure as the previous appropriations chair.
Government contractor Sarah Discaya and Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya also revealed that the lawmaker, along with former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, received 30 percent kickbacks from flood control projects tied to leading contractors.
The directive marked Dy's first move as House Speaker, following his assumption of the post on Wednesday, September 17, with 253 votes, after Romualdez resigned.
