Where is Zaldy Co? Fil-Ams urged to help find him in the US

NEW YORK — A viral social media post by Filipino American photographer Ree Cabay of Texas has stirred conversations online, as she urged fellow Filipinos in the US to help locate lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co so he can face corruption allegations back home.  

Cabay’s post, which quickly drew traction online came after reports that Co left for the United States for medical treatment just days before a Senate investigation into alleged anomalies in multibillion-peso flood control projects. 

“Let’s do the right thing for our country. If you know where he is or if he is staying with someone you know, please encourage him to return and face due process,” Cabay wrote in her post that garnered thousands of likes and shares.

She also urged Fil-Ams to report any sightings of Co to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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Zaldy Co’s travel clearance revoked

House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III last week revoked Co’s travel clearance and gave him until Sept. 28 to return to the Philippines or face possible ethics sanctions.  

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“I have a deep love for our country and deep concern for our fellow Filipinos,” Cabay told USNewsRank.  

“I was deeply saddened and angered by the news that there is just so much corruption. I truly believe, with all my heart, that Filipinos deserve better. We need to step up and hold the government accountable. Corruption must end.”  

Cabay said the turning point came when she and her husband, longtime viewers of Philippine newscasts, saw a report confirming Co’s departure.   

“I was baffled. How was he allowed to leave the country with such a major investigation looming, especially when he’s a key figure in the controversy?” she said.  

“It made me question: How could our government and Immigration let this happen at such a crucial time?”  

Co, 49, is a businessman and Ako Bicol party-list representative who rose to prominence as chair of the House Committee on Appropriations from 2022 to early 2025. He co-founded Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. in 1997, which grew into one of the Philippines’ major infrastructure players.  

He is now accused of being at the center of an alleged budget manipulation scheme involving flood control projects, with Senate witnesses claiming lawmakers, including Co, received significant kickbacks. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has flagged Sunwest as among top contractors that cornered billions in flood control funds.

Zaldy Co must return to PH to face Senate probe

For Cabay, however, the issue is less about political feuds and more about accountability.  

“If he truly believes he’s innocent, he should return to the Philippines and face the Senate investigation. That’s the least he can do,” she said.  

 While Cabay admitted she did not expect her post to go viral, she said her intention was simple. 

 “I posted it simply to raise awareness among fellow Filipinos here in the States and hopefully encourage others to help locate Mr. Co and support efforts to bring him back to the Philippines. It was really about doing our part for the country.”  

She added: “Evading accountability while enjoying the comforts of the US is an injustice to the 120 million Filipinos who pay taxes and deserve better leadership.”  

The post Where is Zaldy Co? Fil-Ams urged to help find him in the US appeared first on USNewsRank.