Statement of Palace Following Zaldy Co’s Corruption Accusations
PALACE – Malacañang claimed that the corruption in the Philippine government now is allegedly existent already during the Duterte admin.
The claims of Zaldy Co gained different reactions from the Filipino people. The resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative who has het to return to the country and face the flood control allegations against him tagged President Bongbong Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the supposed multi-billion corruption in the country.
According to Zaldy Co, Pres. Bongbong Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly ordered the P100-billion budget insertions in the 2025 budget. He also claimed that he supposedly confirmed the “order” to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
Co also claimed that he was allegedly set to return to the Philippines when he was allegedly told by Romualdez to stay out of the country upon the supposed order of the President. According to him, he was promised that he will be taken cared of.
However, according to Zaldy Co, he did not expect that he will be the “poster boy” of the government in its fight against corruption. While Marcos Jr. has yet to speak on the issue, the Palace immediately held a press conference over the claims of the former House member.
Today, Zaldy Co released the second part of his claims wherein he said that no flood control money allegedly went to him. Based on his post, he claimed that all the budget insertion allegedly went to Pres. Bongbong Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Following Zaldy Co tagging Marcos Jr. and Romualdez in the flood control mess, the Palace stressed that the economic growth of the Philippines is allegedly affected by the calamities and the corruption issues. However, according to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, corruption is allegedly existent already since the previous administration.
“Tandaan natin, ang korupsyon na ito ay hindi lang sa panahon ngayon, panahon pa po ng nakaraang administrasyon,” Castro said.
The Palace official also challenged Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines and face the flood control accusations against him. According to Castro, the allegations against Co are based from evidence and testimonies. Recently, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson also reacted to the accusations of Zaldy Co versus Marcos Jr. and Romualdez.