GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Marcos on Zaldy Co's claims: I don't want to dignify what he said
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. brushed off former Ako Bicol party-list Representative House Appropriations chairman Zaldy Co’s claims that he, along with former Speaker Martin Romualdez and other Cabinet officials, orchestrated the P100-billion insertions for projects in the 2025 national budget during the bicam process.
“I don’t want to even dignify what he was saying,” Marcos said in a chance interview with reporters during his visit to typhoon-affected areas in Negros Occidental.
"I don't want to even dignify what he was saying."
— GMA Integrated News (@gmanews) November 15, 2025
Ito ang naging sagot ni Pangulong Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. nang tanungin tungkol sa mga pahayag ni dating Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
Nauna nang itinanggi ng Malacañang ang mga akusasyon ni Co sa… pic.twitter.com/AyduwRw9gS
The President was asked for his comment on Co’s “tell-all” video.
In his video, the former lawmaker alleged that it was Marcos himself who instructed the insertion of P100-billion worth of projects through the bicam.
In the second part of his exposé released Saturday, Co claimed that he, himself, together with his staff and security guards delivered suitcases containing money to Marcos and Romualdez.
Romualdez has issued a statement saying his conscience "remains clear" amid allegations made by Co.
"My conscience remains clear. Throughout this inquiry, no public official, contractor, or witness has pointed to any wrongdoing on my part," said Romualdez in a statement.
"I do not wish to comment on the recent statements and allegations made by former Rep. Zaldy Co because these were not made under oath and do not hold water in the court of law," added Romualdez.
Co also claimed that Marcos received 25% from the supposed insertions, equivalent to P25 billion.
Likewise, Presidential Communications Office's Acting Secretary Dave Gomez refuted anew Co's statements as he maintained that the lawmaker’s allegations are a "bunch of hearsay."
“We may begin to sound like a broken record. What he is saying is a bunch of hearsay. Sabi nito, sabi ni ano. Hindi nag rewrite ng script sa second video kahit na kanal na ‘yung una,” Gomez said.
“We continue to issue the same challenge. Come home, sign these under oath and face the music,” the PCO chief said.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro also dismissed Co’s statements as “propaganda."
“Ang mga binitawan ni Zaldy Co ay isang kasinungalingan, propaganda… Napakaliwanag na mga pag-amin niya. Umamin si Zaldy Co sa ginawa niyang mga insertions para sa Budget 2025. Hindi na niya maitatanggi na siya ang taksil sa bayan na naglalagay ng mga insertions para nakawin lamang,” she said.
(The claims by Zaldy Co are false, propaganda… His admissions are very clear. Zaldy Co had admitted to the insertions he made in the 2025 budget. He can no longer deny that he is a traitor to the country that placed insertions just to steal them away.)
Castro added that the insertions prompted Marcos to veto several line items.
“Bakit mag-uutos si Secretary Amenah ng DBM na mag-insert ng P100 billion na proyekto kung tatanggalin at i-veto ang mga proyektong ito? Mas malaki pa ang pinatanggal ng Pangulo na halagang P194 billion kaysa sinasabing pinapainsert na P100 billion,” she said.
(Why would Secretary Amenah Pangandaman of DBM order the insertion of P100 billion in projects if these will just be removed and vetoed? The P149 billion that the President ordered to be removed was even bigger than the P100-billion insertion he allegedly asked for.)
She also pointed out that the photos of suitcases of money allegedly delivered to Romualdez and Marcos dated back to 2024.
“Ang binabanggit ni Zaldy Co na ang mga insertions ay para sa Budget 2025 dahil nag-usap daw sila ni Secretary Amenah noong 2024 noong mag-umpisa ang bicam process… pero nag-open ang bicam noong November 2024, kaya paano madideliver di umano ng kanyang mga tao ang mga maleta noong January, May, June, August at October 2024 kung di pa man nagsisimula ang bicam para sa Budget 2025? Saan niya kinuha ang pera noong mga buwan ng taong 2024 kung sa Budget 2025 manggagaling ang diumanong mga deliveries at mga maleta lamang ang pinakitang ito?” Castro said.
(Zaldy Co’s alleged insertions were for the 2025 budget since he allegedly spoke with Secretary Amenah in 2024 during the bicam process… but the bicam only opened in November 2024, so how can his staff deliver the alleged suitcases in January, May, June, August and October 2024 if the bicameral conference hadn’t even started for Budget 2025? Where did he get the money for those months in 2024 if these deliveries allegedly came from Budget 2025 and only suitcases were shown?)
“Ngayon pa lang sa video niya ay kitang kita na ang mga gawa-gawang kwento," she added.
(Even now in his video, you can clearly see the made-up stories.)
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Saturday urged former Co to return to the Philippines and back his accusations against Marcos Jr. and Romualdez.
Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Tindig Pilipinas convenor Kiko Aquino Dee said Marcos should not pretend to be clean amid the flood control mess.
“Consistent ang sinasabi natin na hindi puwedeng magmalinis si President Marcos dito. Ang pananaw po namin ay kasama siya talaga sa flood control scam dahil siya ang nagsign ng budget na ito. Ngayon na may allegation na talagang nakinabang siya. So ang sinasabi namin ay hindi siya puwedeng malinis, dapat mag-recuse siya sa lahat ng mga nagaganap na investigation ngayon,” Dee said.
(We have consistently said that President Marcos cannot come clean here. Our view is that he is indeed involved in the flood control scam because he signed this budget. Now there is an allegation that he actually benefited. What we are saying is that he cannot come clean, he should recuse himself from all the ongoing investigations now.)
Dee called on Marcos to guarantee the safe return of Co to the country so that the former lawmaker could provide his testimony before the proper authorities.
“Ihiwalay na niya nang todo ang sarili niya sa lahat ng imbestigasyon tungkol sa flood control. Kaya dapat i-certify niya as urgent ‘yung mga panukalang batas ngayon sa both houses of Congress na magtatatag ngayon ng totoong independent commission on infrastructure na puwedeng magimbestiga na walang impluwensiya sa pangulo,” he added.
(He should completely remove himself from all investigations into flood control. He should certify as urgent the bills in both houses of Congress that will establish a truly independent commission on infrastructure that will investigate without any influence from the President.)
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon meanwhile expressed doubt over Co’s allegations against Marcos Jr.
Dizon said it was Marcos himself who revealed the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects and called for a probe.
“Kung involved ka, bakit ikaw mismo magpapasabog? Bakit mo gagawin lahat ng ito? Bakit mo ibubuo ang isang independent commission?” Dizon said.
(If you are involved, why would you expose it yourself? Why would you do all of this? Why would you create an independent commission?)
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has said criminal charges linked to the alleged flood control corruption scheme will be filed possibly within two weeks against Co and several officials of the DPWH. —with reports from Jiselle Anne Casucian and Jamil Santos/KG/VBL, GMA Integrated News
