Zaldy Co claimed he received a death threat from Martin Romualdez
Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co accused former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of threatening him.
Co released a series of video statements regarding the accusations against him and started pointing fingers at Romualdez and President Bongbong Marcos, as the alleged masterminds of the budget insertion scheme.
In his video, reading a written statement, Co claimed that the President ordered, through Romualdez, that he should put a P100 billion budget insertion. The former congressman also said that it was the President’s instruction that he would just stay abroad and not return to the Philippines, as he would be taken care of.
In a video he released on Sunday, November 16, Zaldy Co made another round of accusations against Pres. Bongbong Marcos and his cousin, Cong. Martin Romualdez.
According to Co, the President and the Congressman received P56 billion kickbacks. The Malacanang Palace debunked this accusation from the former lawmaker.
In the same video, Co claimed that the government is using its resources to silence him. Allegedly, he was threatened by Romualdez, based on the report from Philstar Life.
“March 2025 palang, si Speaker ay nagpaparinig na sa’kin sa aming meeting that he will shoot me if I will talk. At pagkatapos niyang sabihin sa akin in a phone call na ‘Don’t come home, we will take care of you,’” Co claimed.
He also said that there were threats against his family. Co added that Romualdez said it would be dangerous for him to return to the country. Allegedly, this will cost his life.
“Tumawag ulit si Speaker Martin at sinabihan ako, ‘Pag umuwi ako, it will be dangerous’ kasi they will hire someone to do a rub out on me or hire the police to kill me while in jail,” Zaldy Co said.
Previously, Cong. Martin Romualdez denied the claims made by the former congressman. He said that Co’s statement had no bearing since he was not under oath. The former House Speaker also stressed that his conscience is clear.