The Commission on Elections (Comelec) stands ready to act on the resignation of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, but it awaits a formal declaration of a vacancy from the House of Representatives (HOR) before proceeding with his replacement.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said on Tuesday, September 30, that the poll body cannot move forward with naming Co’s successor until the House formally communicates its decision. The Lower House must send an official letter to Comelec before any action can happen.
Once the HOR provides the necessary declaration, Garcia confirmed that Comelec will follow the nominee list submitted by Ako Bicol. The third nominee on the list, Jan Franz Almario Chan, is set to replace Co.
Ako Bicol secured two seats in the 2025 elections, earning 1,073,119 votes. Co resigned on Monday amid allegations of his involvement in controversial flood control projects.
Co said that AKB would notify the HOR about his designated successor.
In a separate matter, Garcia responded to questions about Co’s Statement of Expenditures and Contributions (SOCE) for the May 2022 elections.
He said that no contractors appeared as donors in Co’s filings. Garcia added that while the 2022 election records show no such contributions, the situation remains uncertain for the 2025 elections.
Regarding ongoing investigations into possible campaign donations from government contractors, Garcia stated that Comelec is still waiting for a response from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Of the 55 contractors under investigation, no confirmation has been received yet.
Garcia also denied claims that Comelec is targeting specific individuals, pointing out that Senator Chiz Escudero was the first to acknowledge receiving contributions from a contractor.
The Comelec chair emphasized that the poll body will continue its investigation and issue formal notices if it confirms any involvement of government contractors in political donations.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.