House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to cancel the passport of former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, who is being sought for his alleged involvement in anomalous public works projects.
In a dzMM interview, Dy confirmed that he sought the help of former Justice Secretary and now Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to restrict Co’s travel abroad following his resignation from the House of Representatives on Sept. 29.
‘I told him (Remulla) that (if possible), let’s pursue the fastest way to cancel his passport to restrict his movements,’ he said in a mix of Tagalog and English.
Co, who served as the House appropriations chair in the 19th Congress, is facing public scrutiny over alleged irregularities in flood control projects linked to his company, Sunwest Inc.
He and former Speaker Martin Romualdez are also being accused of masterminding the irregular insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and of receiving kickbacks from ghost and substandard projects.
Dy explained that while the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is the authority that formally cancels passports, the House sought the DOJ’s assistance since it oversees the Bureau of Immigration and could help expedite the coordination process.
If Co returns to the Philippines-voluntarily or otherwise-Dy said the case would likely be handled by the DOJ or the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which is now leading the investigation into alleged irregularities in public works.
In his last letter to the House before resigning, Co said he was leaving the country for medical treatment in the United States. However, Dy acknowledged receiving reports that Co might now be in Europe.
His current whereabouts remain unclear, though his official excuse is that he has sought medical treatment in the United States for an undisclosed condition.
Dy initially ordered him to come home within 10 days in a Sept. 19 letter revoking his travel clearance, but Co instead decided to resign his post on Dy’s deadline.
Before Co stepped down, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco filed an ethics complaint against the former appropriations chair to compel him to explain these issues. /mcm