Ellis Co speaks out against father Zaldy Co: 'Come home and answer to the people'
Ellis Co, the son of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, has broken his silence and publicly denounced his father amid claims of Zaldy's involvement in the anomalous flood-control projects.
In a lengthy statement on his Instagram account, Ellis said that he wanted to address the situation and expressed his deepest sympathies to the people who have stood up against corruption in the streets.
"I am with you, I am on your side. Though I bear my last name, I've always tried to separate myself from that affiliation. It can't be denied that I was born into privilege. Despite this, I've always pushed to give back, especially to the community and to the industry I've long admired," the fashion designer and singer said on Wednesday.
He claimed that he had moved out of his parents' home and had been working for his own money since he was 16 years old.
"This isn't a sob story; it's my effort to show transparency regarding my brand, and how I chose not to participate in that system. Over the years, I've pushed to separate myself from their work and have repeatedly declined offers to participate in politics or any government-related opportunities," he said, referring to his fashion label DOT ARCHIVES.
Ellis, who goes by the name Ellis G, went on to address the corruption issue that has been hounding the Philippines in recent weeks.
"I condemn corruption in all its forms. I understand the anger and disgust. The hate is more than valid. And for the past few weeks, I've been having an internal conflict between my morals and my family. I am only speaking out now because I needed the time to have a firm grasp of the situation," he stressed.
According to him, his relationship with his father had "become very vague" when he entered politics, causing him to become "increasingly distant" from him as well as from the rest of his family.
"Though I try to separate myself from the affiliation, I won't exclude myself from the conversation. I am deeply ashamed, and I wish for nothing but the truth to come out. There is no excuse," Ellis said.
He also said that anyone who is proven guilty of these crimes should be held accountable and should face the proper consequences, and that includes his dad.
"I urge him to appear before the people and be accountable once and for all. I am not just speaking out against a politician; I am speaking out against my father. And if this decision gets me disowned, I would rather face that consequence than watch millions of people suffer from his actions," Ellis said.
How he funded his brand
Addressing suspicions about his brand, Ellis said that he funded DOT ARCHIVES by accepting uniform projects and various other clothing projects from different clients.
"You may ask, 'How does a 20-something-year-old have money to fund fashion shows?' The simple answer was I didn't. While I had my savings, I also had access to resources that a normal business owner wouldn't. My mom invested in my fashion shows, and it's a loan we're expected to pay," he explained.
He continued, "The financial goal of the business was to break even, with the majority of the revenue being used to provide grants to other small, local designers, support creatives and pay them their actual rates as much as possible, and to create projects and build bridges to other countries that will allow Filipino talent to be seen and recognized."
Now that he had a chance to reflect on his business, Ellis admitted that he wished he "could've discerned the situation better."
"I can't change the family I was born into, but I can choose my own path. And this brand is how I've chosen to stand on my own while giving back to a community I deeply admire," Ellis said.
"I do not stand for corruption, I do not stand for taking advantage of taxpayers' money. I stand for opening doors so other less fortunate, talented, gifted Filipino designers and creatives can walk through it. I have not strayed away from this mission," he added.
He further decried what he called misinformation being spread about his brand and highlighted how he is willing to address these with full transparency and provide proof if needed.
He ended his statement with a message towards Zaldy: "To my father, come home and answer to the people. Have your time in court. People need answers. Free those who were unfairly imprisoned, and seek justice for those who put their lives at stake."
Social media users react
The comments section quickly became a source of skepticism, with users questioning the credibility of the said post.
Fashion designer Nina Amoncio, for instance, asked: "Can you also explain why a 21-year-old Filipino would own or have his name as Chairperson & CEO of Misibis Bay Aviation and Development Corp?" (Ellis allegedly leads the aircraft charter rental and leasing business.)
Another user talked about Ellis's earlier statement in one interview, where he mentioned he was "waiting for an invite" to Tokyo/Rakuten Fashion Week—an event where designers must pay to participate.
"Even with DTI support, it's obvious your last name opened the door. Spare people the performance of being an 'independent label' when clearly you are not," the user said.
A user challenged his claim of being "blessed with privilege" by asking, "Eh saan galing yung privilege na 'yan kundi sa perang ninakaw ng tatay mong si [Z]aldy [C]o?"
Meanwhile, others were asking him to bring his father back to the country.
"Then tell your dad to return to the PH ASAP and face the possible charges. If found guilty, return what was stolen bruh," one Instagram user said.
Zaldy is reportedly in Madrid amid budget insertion allegations against him and a prolonged absence in relation to the multi-billion-peso flood control scandal.
Because of this, newly minted House Speaker Bojie Dy formally revoked his travel clearance on Sept. 19 and ordered his immediate return to the Philippines within 10 days after receipt of notice. Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco has also filed an ethics complaint against him.
