The recent removal of Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co as House Committee on Appropriations chairperson was lauded by supporters of the Duterte family.

This, as some Duterte backers expressed on social media that Co's removal as appropriations chair is "karma" following his criti cisms against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Also, several netizens praised Co’s removal, saying it was overdue due to alleged anomalies in the passage of the 2025 national budget.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed P194 billion worth of line items in the national budget, citing that they were not aligned with his administration’s programmed priorities when he signed the budget last year.

To recall, Co was removed from his position on 13 January following a motion by Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos to declare the post vacant.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez quickly approved the motion.

On the same day, Co released a statement saying he had stepped down due to health concerns.

However, netizens speculated that this was his way of “saving face” amid recent controversies involving the national budget.

Co is known as a critic of Duterte and a “word war” previously erupted between the two after Co criticized the confidential funds allocated to the Vice President’s office and accused Duterte of pocketing the funds.

Others called for an investigation into Co, similar to his scrutiny of Duterte, linking him to major corruption scandals, including the Pharmally case.