Statement of Malacañang on Zaldy Co’s Accusations vs. Marcos Jr., Romualdez
Malacañang claimed that Zaldy Co allegedly wants the investigation on the corruption issue to stop so he tagged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Zaldy Co released a series of videos wherein he threw accusations against Pres. Bongbong Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. According to him, the President and the former Speaker are allegedly involved in the budget insertions and kickbacks issue.
Zaldy Co claimed that Marcos Jr. and Romualdez allegedly received a P56 billion kickback. According to him, the claims of the witnesses to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that he got P21 billion kickbacks is allegedly not true as the amount was P56 billion and it supposedly went to the President and the then-Speaker.
Co also claimed that Marcos Jr. allegedly ordered a P100-billion budget insertion in the 2025 budget. According to him, he even confirmed the said order to former Speaker Martin Romualdez, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin. They allegedly confirmed the instructions.
Amid the calls for him to return to the Philippines and face the flood control corruption accusations against him, Zaldy Co claimed in one of the videos he posted that he’s allegedly set to return to the country but he was supposedly told to stay out as he will be taken cared of.
According to the resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative, it was allegedly Marcos Jr. who ordered him to stay out of the country. However, he claimed that he did not expect to be the “poster boy” in the government’s fight against corruption.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos remained silent on the accusations of Zaldy Co. It was Malacañang that immediately held a press conference over the accusations against Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro challenged Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines and testify under oath. Furthermore, the Palace official also stressed that Co’s alleged involvement in the corruption issue is based on evidence, testimony, and his properties.
Recently, Malacañang once again spoke on the other allegations of Zaldy Co against Pres. Bongbong Marcos. According to Atty. Claire Castro, it became a “comedy series”.
“’Yan ang problema sa tahi-tahing kasinungalingan ni Zaldy Co. Walang ebidensiya na maipakita, puro basa ng script lang. Ang exposé na inaasahan ng mga kaalyado niya ay naging comedy series na,” the Palace official said.
Based on a post of News on social media, Atty. Claire Castro also claimed that Zaldy Co who is accused of involvement in the corruption issue allegedly wants the investigation to stop. Thus, he tagged Pres. Bongbong Marcos to the issue as per the Malacañang official.
“Silang nasasangkot ang gustong pigilan ang pag iimbestiga na ito kaya gumagawa na sila ng kwento laban sa Pangulo,” she said.
Aside from the corruption accusations, Zaldy Co also claimed that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly threatened him.