Jump to content

Zaldy Co

Add links
Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Salcedo and the surname or paternal family name is Co.

Zaldy Co
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Ako Bicol
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Serving with Jil Bongalon (2022–2025)
Alfredo Garbin (2025–present)
Chair of the House Appropriations Committee
In office
July 25, 2022 – January 13, 2025
Preceded byEric Yap
Succeeded byStella Quimbo
Personal details
Born
Elizaldy Salcedo Co

(1970-12-08) December 8, 1970 (age 54)
Political partyAko Bicol
SpouseMylene Co
RelationsChristopher Co (brother)
Natasha Co (niece)
Claudine Co (niece)
Children4
Alma materAMA Computer College (BS)
Aquinas University (MBA)
OccupationPolitician, businessman
Known forCEO, Sunwest Group of Companies
Chairman, Misibis Bay Resort

Elizaldy "Zaldy" Salcedo Co (born December 8, 1970) is a Filipino businessman and politician serving as a representative for the Ako Bicol Partylist in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 2019. He is also the chief executive officer of the Sunwest Group of Companies and Chairman of the Board of Misibis Bay Resort in Bacacay, Albay.

Early life and education

Co was born on December 8, 1970.[1] He completed his primary education at Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School in Legazpi City in 1982 and his secondary education at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Tabaco City in 1986. He earned his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from AMA Computer College and later completed his Master of Business Administration at Aquinas University in 1998.[2]

Business career

Zaldy Co along with his brother Christopher "Kito" Co founded the Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation (SCDC) in 1997.[3][4] The business which later renamed as Sunwest Inc., diversified and became involved in the real estate, energy, and tourism industries.[4]

In the 2000s, Co's Sunwest was linked to government flood control and road projects under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Sunwest is among the top contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways.[4]

Sunwest acquired the Hyatt Regency Hotel of Jose Mari Chan in Pasay[5] The hotel reopened as Midas Hotel and Casino in December 2010.[6]

From 2016 to 2025, Sunwest bagged ₱86.1 billion worth of contracts, almost half of which are in the Bicol Region.[4] [7] His company secured contracts including landslide facilities for the Bicol International Airport.[8]

Co has divested from SCDC in 2019 but remains as a beneficial owner.[9]

Political career

Co has been serving as a representative for the Ako Bicol Partylist in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since June 30, 2019.[10] He approached president Rodrigo Duterte to expedite the completion of the Bicol International Airport.[7]

In the 19th Congress which began in 2022, he was appointed as the chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.[11] He was removed from the position in January 2025.[12] Co authored 524 bills during the 19th Congress.[13]

In February 2023, Co was endorsed by the term-limited Joey Salceda as his successor as Albay's 2nd district representative.[14] However Co remained a nominee of Ako Bicol for the 2025 election.

Co retained his seat in the lower house for the 20th Congress, which started in July 2025. However, he has yet to attend any plenary session since the house convened on July 28, 2025.[15] Co, due to his ownership of the contractor firm Sunwest, has been implicated in the 2025 flood control projects scandal.[16][17] Co went to the United States, citing medical treatment as his reason.[18]

Controversies

Pharmally and DepEd laptop controversy

In February 2024, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva raised concerns about Co's company, Sunwest Corporation, alleging its involvement in the Pharmally scandal and a controversial Department of Education laptop deal. This came after Co referenced a dismissed ombudsman case against Villanueva, who countered by presenting evidence suggesting his signature was forged.[19] In 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman charged Department of Education executives for buying overpriced and outdated laptops from Sunwest in 2021.[20]

National budget dispute

In September 2024, Co, along with other lawmakers, disputed Vice President Sara Duterte's claim that only two officials controlled the national budget. Co described the statement as a "scam attempt" and emphasized that budget decisions were made collectively. He also criticized Duterte for not attending a hearing on the Office of the Vice President's proposed budget.[21]

Bicol flood control funding controversy

See also: Flood control projects controversy in the Philippines

In October 2024, Co faced scrutiny over statements regarding flood control funding in the Bicol region. A Vera Files fact-check revealed that he had misrepresented the funding situation by claiming no billion-peso funding was allocated for flood control projects, while the Department of Public Works and Highways had received ₱1.3 billion for such efforts in 2023.[22] Co later defended the administration's strategy, explaining that funding was redirected toward water impounding facilities to improve food security.[23]

Construction firms linked to Co's family received flood contracts worth ₱15.7 billion while Co headed the House appropriations committee, which decides on the national budget.[20] Co is co-founder of Sunwest, Inc. while his brother Christopher Co is co-founder of Hi-Tone and his sister Farida Co is co-founder of FS Co, all firms with large government contracts.[20] On September 25, his Wikipedia page was vandalized for two hours, with his surname altered from "Co" to "Co-rakot".[a][24]

Personal life

Co is married to Mylene Co.[25]

Notes

  1. ^ a pun on the Filipino word "kurakot", which translates in English to "corrupt".

References

  1. ^ "Elizaldy Co". Rappler. September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  2. ^ "Elizaldy S. Co profile". Superbrands. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  3. ^ De Leon, Dwight; Valmonte, Kaycee (March 7, 2025). "Mapping the scandal-plagued business fortunes of Zaldy Co". Rappler. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Baclig, Cristina Eloisa (September 18, 2025). "The congressman and the billions: Tracing the power of Zaldy Co". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  5. ^ "Hyatt Regency sold; to reopen as hotel-casino". Marianas Business Journal. December 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  6. ^ Hallig, Lester Gopela (March 13, 2011). "The Midas touch". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "AKB Rep at Sunwest Corp Founder Zaldy Co, sinagot ang pagkakakaladkad ng kanyang kumpanya sa Pharmally issue" [AKB Rep and Sunwest Corp Founder Zaldy Co, answer his company dragging into the Pharmally issue]. Brigada News (in Filipino). September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  8. ^ "Pharmally leads 10 firms that got biggest pandemic contracts, group says". The Philippine Star. October 14, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  9. ^ De Leon, Dwight (March 8, 2025). "Zaldy Co still 'beneficial owner' of scandal-ridden public works contractor". Rappler. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  10. ^ "House of Representatives Member Profile". Congress.gov.ph. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "House Committee on Appropriations". Congress.gov.ph. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (January 13, 2025). "Rep. Co removed from House appropriations post". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  13. ^ de Leon, Dwight (June 30, 2025). "Your lawmaker filed either hundreds, or just a few bills. So what?". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  14. ^ "Salceda endorses Co as successor in 2025". Manila Bulletin. February 6, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  15. ^ de Leon, Dwight (September 3, 2025). "Where is Zaldy Co?". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 3, 2025.
  16. ^ Porcalla, Delon (August 12, 2025). "Silence from House on list of contractors". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  17. ^ Baclig, Cristina Eloisa (September 19, 2025). "Zaldy Co in the eye of the flood control super typhoon". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  18. ^ de Leon, Dwight (September 4, 2025). "House confirms Zaldy Co in US for medical treatment". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  19. ^ Hana Bordey (February 12, 2024). "Villanueva hits back at Zaldy Co: Your company is linked to Pharmally, DepEd laptop controversies". GMA Integrated News.
  20. ^ a b c Latoza, Guinevere (August 31, 2025). "Five Reveals from the Flood-Control Data". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  21. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 10, 2024). "Co, other solons dispute VP Sara's claim of 2 execs controlling budget". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  22. ^ "Fact Check: Co falsely claims 'no billion-peso' funding for flood control in Bicol". Vera Files. November 5, 2024.
  23. ^ Oliquino, Edjen (October 25, 2024). "Co counters claims on Bicol's multi-billion peso flood control budget". Daily Tribune.
  24. ^ Garcia, Patrick (September 25, 2025). "Rep. Zaldy Co's Wikipedia Details Tampered". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  25. ^ "Contractors snare billions for laptops, PPEs, elections" (PDF). Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zaldy_Co&oldid=1313314995"