Zaldy Co needs to return home to testify vs Marcos

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January 25, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — If he really is serious about testifying in an impeachment case against President Marcos, fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co should return to the country and personally take his oath before the House of Representatives’ committee on justice, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said yesterday.

“Under the rules of impeachment, all affidavits and counter-affidavits must be sworn to by the justice committee chair. And that includes the giving of testimony before the justice committee,” Luistro, the committee’s chairperson, said.

“If these intended witnesses are willing to come before the justice committee and take their oath, of course they can testify. All evidence supporting the impeachment complaint has to be sworn in before the justice committee,” she added.

Co, who has a pending warrant of arrest for his alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, has remained in hiding since leaving the country in July last year supposedly for a medical check-up.

He is believed to be staying in a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal.

In November, Marcos challenged Co to come home and face accusations against him after the fugitive lawmaker appeared on video in social media accusing the President of orchestrating “insertions” worth P100 billion in the national budget, in cahoots with other top officials and lawmakers. Malacañang dismissed Co’s accusations as hearsay.

It was former party-list lawmaker Michael Defensor, one of the complainants in the third impeachment complaint filed against Marcos, who said that Co is willing to testify against the Chief Executive, a former ally.

Defensor, along with former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, attempted to file an impeachment complaint against Marcos on Thursday. The Office of the Secretary General, however, refused to receive their complaint because its head, Cheloy Garafil, was abroad.

Earlier on the same day, former Bayan Muna congressman Neri Colmenares and Teddy Casiño also tried but failed to have their impeachment complaint logged by Garafil’s staff, also for the same reason.

Luistro said the House committee on justice is prepared to take up any impeachment complaint that it may receive through proper referral from the plenary.

“This is an extraordinary power that is given to the sovereign people to remove an erring impeachable official. So, it is indeed my appreciation that it has to be exercised without delay and with utmost caution,” Luistro said at the Saturday Media Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

Luistro stressed that procedural compliance and proper referral remain the key factors in whatever decision the committee may issue.