MANILA — House Speaker Bojie Dy confirmed that the chamber has lost jurisdiction over the ethics complaint against former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co following his resignation.

“Since Congressman Zaldy Co has already resigned, Congress no longer has the authority, so to speak, to summon or invite him to attend the committee on ethics,” Dy told reporters.

The complaint, filed by Rep. Toby Tiangco, accused Co of manipulating the 2025 budget as appropriations chair, flaunting his wealth, and violating conflict-of-interest rules through ties to top contractor Sunwest Inc.

Dy and ethics committee chair Rep. JC Abalos (4Ps Party-list) explained that the House can only discipline sitting members. With Co no longer in office, they said it is now up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to pursue cases.

In a media report, it was mentioned that Abalos stressed that while the ethics complaint is moot, the committee still urges Co to face the charges recommended by the ICI and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Dy said the House had prepared to suspend Co if he failed to return to the Philippines by midnight on September 29, after his travel clearance was revoked. Co, however, preempted the move by filing his resignation at around 2:35 p.m.

The Speaker also revealed that Co had applied for personal leave, not medical leave, and failed to provide a medical certificate, making his request “lacking in basis.”

Despite his resignation, Dy maintained that Co must still be brought back to the country “by all means possible” to face corruption allegations, including claims he pocketed kickbacks from infrastructure projects.

Co has denied the accusations, calling them baseless.

In its first report, the ICI named Co among personalities recommended for criminal charges over irregularities in a ₱289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro, which was awarded to Sunwest — a company Co co-founded but divested from in 2019. The NBI has likewise recommended bribery and malversation charges against him and other lawmakers.

The DOJ and the Department of Public Works and Highways have already asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze Co’s assets. Authorities also sought an Interpol Blue Notice and placed him under an immigration lookout bulletin order.