CEO,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 BicolPartylist 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.
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]
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]
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forged.[19] In 2025,the Office of the Ombudsman charged Department of Education executives for buying overpriced and outdated laptops from Sunwest in 2021.[20]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]
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]
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