MANILA, Philippines — Former congressman Mike Defensor has raised questions about the sudden silence of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co amid ongoing controversies involving the testimonies of 18 individuals claiming to be former Marines.

During an interview on the radio program Ted Failon at DJ Chacha, Defensor expressed curiosity over why Co—who had previously been active in releasing online commentary and vlogs—appears to have stopped speaking publicly about the issue.

According to Defensor, he had spoken with Co before the claims of the alleged former Marines became public, suggesting that the former lawmaker might have had some knowledge about the individuals involved.

“Siguro nakausap ko lang s’ya noong bago lumabas ’tong [18 umano’y ex-marines]… Meron na siyang general knowledge kung paano at kung anong mga sasabihin nung kanyang mga dating security aid,” Defensor said.

However, Defensor admitted that he could not confirm whether Co’s silence is directly related to the allegations being discussed in connection with the statements of the supposed former military personnel.

“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung ito ba ay tumatahimik siya dahil ayaw niyang ’yung gobyerno ay diinan ’yung kanyang pagbabalik dito sa ating bansa.”

The former lawmaker also observed a pattern in which some individuals who initially speak publicly about controversial issues eventually become quiet once high-ranking government officials are mentioned.

In his remarks, Defensor referenced political figures such as Martin Romualdez and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., noting that discussions involving prominent personalities often lead to sudden silence from those making claims.

As discussions around the alleged testimonies and related controversies continue, the absence of public statements from Co has fueled speculation among observers and commentators.

With multiple figures mentioned and questions still unanswered, a key issue remains: Is Zaldy Co’s silence simply personal caution—or does it signal deeper developments behind the unfolding controversy?

(Larawan mula: Mike Defensor / Facebook)