Sen. Ping Lacson Reacts To Claims of Zaldy Co amid Corruption Issue in PH Gov’t
PING LACSON – The Senate President Pro Tempore reacted to the accusations of Zaldy Co against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co recently threw corruption accusations against Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Romualdez. Through his own social media account, he claimed that the President and the former House Speaker were allegedly behind the P100-billion worth of budget insertions in the 2025 budget.
According to Zaldy Co, he was allegedly set to return to the Philippines after the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Bongbong Marcos when he was supposedly told to stay out of the country “as instructed by the President”. He claimed that he trusted that he will be taken cared of.
However, according to Co, he did not expect that he will supposedly be used as the “poster boy” in the campaign of the government against corruption. He stressed that he allegedly has a lot of evidence to support his claims.
Zaldy Co also released a list of the projects that were allegedly included in the P100-billion worth of budget insertions ordered by Marcos Jr. Aside from Marcos Jr. and Romualdez, Co also mentioned Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in his accusations.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, some House members challenged Zaldy Co to testify under oath. Recently, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson reacted to the accusations of Zaldy Co against Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The Senate President Pro Tempore is the head of the Blue Ribbon Committee that leads the flood control investigation. Sen. Ping Lacson previously claimed that they will invite Zaldy Co to attend the flood control hearing via Zoom but he immediately clarified that they will no longer do it as the former House member may allegedly used the inquiry for his alleged propaganda.
Recently, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson reacted to the budget insertion accusations of Zaldy Co against Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. He stressed that the testimony was not made under oath.
“As of now, walang probative value kasi hindi naman (because Co is not) under oath,” Lacson said.
Furthermore, Sen. Ping Lacson also claimed that the statement of Zaldy Co is allegedly a “narration” unless he will take an oath. According to him, he does not say that “it’s unbelievable” but he stressed that the President has a control on the budget insertions.
“I’m not saying it’s unbelievable. Pero at face value, meron tayong sinasabi na ‘yung sabihin natin, common sense only because alam ko ‘yung budgeting process na nagsisimula sa NEP na ‘yung Presidente, may complete control over what should be inserted in the NEP. So kung ganun na pala, ba’t sa bicam pa siya magpapa-insert,” the Senator claimed.
Sen. Ping Lacson clarified that he is not defending Pres. Bongbong Marcos. According to him, it’s just “hard to speculate”. Malacañang also reacted to the accusations of Zaldy co against Marcos Jr.