FACT CHECK: Kabataan Representative Renee Co critical of Marcos even before Zaldy Co issue

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Co has long been critical of the president on issues beyond flood control, including the ‘long overdue’ return of PhilHealth funds

Claim: Kabataan Party-list representative Renee Co is now criticizing the administration of President Ferdinand Jr., because of the issue surrounding her supposed “uncle” Zaldy Co. 

Rating: FALSE 

Why we fact-checked this: The video has already received 646,000 views, 12,800 reactions, 5,200 shares, and 2,500 comments. It was posted on November 22 amid the recent allegations of the former Ako Bicol Party-list representative, but it still continues to gain traction.

The video shows a clip of Kabataan Party-list Representative saying, “Sindikato ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas at ang nasa tuktok ay si Mafia Boss President Marcos Jr.” (The government is a syndicate and Mafia Boss President Marcos Jr. is the one who rules it.)

The post suggests that Renee Co has taken a position against the Marcos administration only after the recent disclosures about her alleged uncle, Zaldy Co, and anomalous flood control projects. She and Zaldy Co not related.

The text on the video reads, “Bumaliktad kna Din kulot. Pakatotoo lang PO. Renee co nag salita na kasi sabit na tito zaldy co nia (You have finally switched sides, [Renee Co]. Just be honest. Renee Co has already spoken because her Tito Zaldy Co is already involved).”

The facts: Renee Co has not changed her position on Marcos amid the revelations of Zaldy Co. The Kabataan Party-list representative has always been consistent with her statements, criticizing both Marcos and Duterte. Additionally, Renee Co had previously denied having familial ties with Zaldy Co. 

On September 21, she called on both Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte to be accountable for the alleged corruption under their administration. 

Even before the recent allegations of Zaldy Co, the Kabataan Party-list had already been criticizing the president, not just for flood control corruption and the budget insertion scheme, but also for various issues including the ‘”long overdue” return of PhilHealth funds. 

Kabataan Party-list: Renee Co currently serves as Kabataan Party-list representative who obtained 312,344 votes in the midterm elections. Kabataan is part of the Makabayan Bloc along with Gabriela and ACT Teachers. 

Previous fact checks: Rappler had already debunked other claims about Kabataan and Renee Co:

• FACT CHECK: Renee Co and Zaldy Co are not related, viral photo is AI-manipulated 
• FACT CHECK: Party-list group Kabataan not a petitioner vs Duterte Youth registration 
• FALSE: Kabataan Partylist received about 160,000 votes in 2019 election 
• FALSE: Kabataan Partylist nominee behind assassination threat vs Marcos Jr. 
• FACT CHECK: Contrary to claim, Makabayan bloc not communist recruiters
• FACT CHECK: Hindi naglaho ang Facebook page ng Kabataan Partylist account ni Manuel FACT CHECK: Party-list groups under Makabayan bloc are not declared terrorist

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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