Quezon city: Fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co may testify in the impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., but only if he is willing to return to the Philippines and personally take his oath before the House of Representatives Committee on Justice. House Justice Committee chairperson Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas' Second District stated that the former Ako Bicol party-list representative has the right to testify, provided he appears in person and formally swears to his statements.

According to Philippines News Agency, Co, who has been out of the country since July 2025, is implicated in anomalous flood control projects. Luistro mentioned at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, "I think it's everybody's right to testify . for as long as he is willing to appear and to take his oath." She emphasized that all evidence supporting the impeachment complaint must be sworn in before the Justice Committee, a requirement that applies to all prospective witnesses.

Former Quezon City congressman and Cabinet official Mike Defensor mentioned on Friday that Co is willing to be a witness in their impeachment complaint. However, they failed to file their complaint on Thursday because House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil was out of the country. The impeachment complaint filed by the Makabayan bloc was likewise not accepted for the same reason.

Luistro noted that the matter should be addressed by Garafil and the Office of the Speaker. "We have the Office of the Speaker to answer all questions pertaining to the inclusion of the impeachment complaint in the Order of Business of the Plenary, and we also have all members of the House to comment on the referral of the impeachment complaints to the Justice Committee," she said.