The situation, in brief
Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has alleged that he and his aides personally delivered large sums of cash to the residences of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying his staff kept records of the drop-offs in North Forbes Park, South Forbes Park…
Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has alleged that he and his aides personally delivered large sums of cash to the residences of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying his staff kept records of the drop-offs in North Forbes Park, South Forbes Park, and Malacañang.
In a new video statement released on Saturday morning, November 15, Co said Orly Guteza can corroborate the deliveries and vowed to release photos to support his claims. Guteza previously told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that he personally delivered the “basura,” a term he used to describe suitcases stuffed with money, to the residences of several government officials.
According to Co, the deliveries were part of what he described as post-bicam transactions that followed the approval of realignments to the 2025 national budget.
He said he checked with DPWH officials after the passage of the General Appropriations Act and was told that the “SOP” required for the Office of the President was 25 percent, amounting to ₱25 billion, which he claimed was supposedly drawn from the earlier ₱100-billion insertion he accused Malacañang and the former Speaker of orchestrating.
Earlier, Malacañang dismissed Co’s allegations as baseless and “pure hearsay,” saying President Marcos Jr. himself exposed the flood-control anomalies now under investigation.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said all presidential instructions are already reflected in the National Expenditure Program and reiterated that the Executive Branch has no role in bicameral insertions.
Co first made that allegation in a separate statement on Friday, November 14. The former lawmaker maintained that he never kept any share of the supposed funds.
“Wala pong perang napunta sa akin. Lahat po ng insertion ay napunta sa ating Pangulo at Speaker Martin Romualdez. Ako lang at ang aking mga tao ang nag-deliver papunta sa bahay nila Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at Speaker Martin Romualdez, sa North Forbes Park, South Forbes Park, hanggang sa Malacañang,” he said.
The former lawmaker also accused the administration of pressuring him into silence, saying he was warned that he would be shot if he revealed details of the alleged scheme.
“Ginagamit ng administrasyon ang buong resources ng bansa para tumahimik ako,” he said, claiming he is being turned into a scapegoat in the government’s anti-corruption campaign.
He added that he had informed both the President and Speaker Romualdez of the alleged instructions during the budget process.
Co also challenged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla to investigate not only Romualdez but also President Marcos.
He likewise urged the Senate to open a separate inquiry into the alleged deliveries and insertion scheme.
“Hindi na ako mananahimik. Ilalabas ko ang lahat ng katotohanan: may resibo, may ebidensya, at may pangalan,” he said.
Co said he intends to release additional evidence and documentation supporting his allegations and pledged to produce witness accounts and photographs to corroborate the deliveries he described.
In response, PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said Co appears to be deflecting accountability, insisting that available evidence points to his involvement in the alleged irregularities. She urged Co to return to the Philippines, testify under oath, and face the cases filed against him.
