Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co has resigned from the House of Representatives, a move he confirmed in a letter addressed to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and later shared on Facebook. His staff likewise confirmed that he has stepped down.
In his resignation letter dated September 29, Co said he was left with no choice but to vacate his post due to risks to his family’s safety and what he described as a denial of his right to defend himself.
“On account of the real, direct, grave and imminent threat to the lives of my family members and me, and the evident denial of my right to due process of law, I am constrained to tender with immediate effect my irrevocable resignation as a member of the House of Representatives,” Co wrote in the letter, which was received by the Speaker’s office at 2:35 p.m.
He added that the Ako Bicol party-list will soon inform the House who will fill the vacated seat.
On his Facebook post, Co said he was stepping down with deep regret. “While it is with a heavy heart, I have informed the Lower House of the Congress of my resignation. Within the span of my tenure, I have tried to be an ally of each Filipino, especially our constituents from Bicol,” he wrote. He further explained that his decision was for the well-being of his family and the people he had served.
The embattled lawmaker is currently in the United States for a medical procedure. Earlier this month, Speaker Dy revoked Co’s travel clearance and ordered him to return within ten days to respond to allegations linking him to questionable budget insertions and government contractors.
Co had argued in a September 25 letter that he was not given the chance to explain his side before the clearance was revoked. He also pointed out that his medical consultations abroad had been ongoing since mid-2024, with previous travel requests granted without requiring medical certificates.
The resignation comes amid a series of allegations surfacing in congressional hearings. Contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya earlier claimed that lawmakers, including Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, demanded a 25 percent cut from infrastructure projects. Both Co and Romualdez denied the accusations.
More recently, former Department of Public Works and Highways-Bulacan officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez tagged Co among those allegedly involved in the kickbacks scheme.
