MANILA — AKO BICOL party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co has been removed from his post as Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.

During the resumption of the House plenary session on Monday, House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte First District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos moved to declare the position vacant.

With no objections, the motion was carried.

“Mr. Speaker, I move to declare vacant the position of chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations,” Marcos said.

“There is a motion. The Chair hears no objection, said motion is carried,” House Speaker Martin Romualdez said.

Co later said he stepped down as the panel’s chairperson due to “pressing health concerns.”

“The highly demanding nature of my role has taken its toll, and I now need to prioritize seeking the medical attention necessary for my well-being,” he said in a statement.

“I have always served at the pleasure of the majority. I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with the immense responsibility of steering the nation’s budget in service of the House of the people and the constituents we represent,” he added. 

No replacement for Co has been named so far.

The House Committee on Appropriations examines the annual national budget.