Makabayan solons want probe of Co’s claims vs Marcos

Makabayan lawmakers on Thursday called for an investigation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over allegations of irregularities in the 2025 national budget as claimed by ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and ex-Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-List Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co made the call a day after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Co and Bernardo’s accusations are already being probed by the anti-graft body.

“We call for a thorough investigation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself. It is simply impossible for corruption rackets of this magnitude involving billions of pesos and multiple high-ranking officials – to operate inside Malacanang without the knowledge and approval of the President. The buck stops at his desk,” they said in a statement on Thursday.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Palace for comment and will publish it once available.

For Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, he has yet to encounter evidence that would point to Marcos’ involvement in the kickback scheme in flood control projects.

“Wala pa, wala pa akong nakikita sa aking mga mata (I haven’t seen such evidence yet),” Remulla said when asked if there is no evidence pointing to the Palace or the President’s involvement in the flood control scam at this point.

In an interview on the sidelines of a forum organized by the University of the Philippines’ College of Law held at U.P. Bonifacio Global CIty, Remulla added that the Ombudsman’s investigation is far from over and that they are still thoroughly studying available evidence.

“The evidence will take you where it will take you. It’s hard to make a comment unless the evidence is there. But the investigation will always lead to somewhere that, to some people who will be culpable,” he said, adding: “And we don't know where it would lead us right now.”

Earlier, Co alleged that Marcos ordered the insertion of P100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget through the bicameral conference committee.

He also claimed to have personally delivered suitcases containing cash to the President and his cousin, ex-Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, and that the two officials received up to P56 billion in kickbacks from allegedly anomalous flood control projects.

Meanwhile, Bernardo alleged that he handled P52 billion in kickbacks from budget insertions, and that he delivered money to then Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar and then Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, nephew of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Senate Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson also quoted Bernardo’s claim that the elder Bersamin would “take care” of the facilitation of P52 billion in kickback from supposed fund insertions in the national budget.

The former Executive Secretary has denied any involvement in the alleged fund insertions and said his office never had involvements in handling the budget of other government agencies.

Bersamin – who also denied resigning out of delicadeza amid the flood control scandal – added that Bernardo’s “knowledge looks like and sounds like triple hearsay.”

Marcos previously brushed off Co’s allegations, saying he does not want to dignify the former lawmaker’s claims. Romualdez also maintained his innocence and said he does not want to comment on Co’s claims as these were not made under oath.

The Palace also denied the claims against the President as “pure hearsay” and propaganda, and said Co should come home to substantiate his accusations. Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro also theorized that Co is being used by those who want to wrest power amid the flood control projects scandal.

Remulla then vowed that the Ombudsman will probe the allegations cropping up in the flood control controversy.

“The revelations are fresh, and we’re still checking on everything. Wala naman tayo magagawa eh, kasi nandiyan na ‘yan eh, evidence na ‘yan eh. This is already an issue close to the hearts of Filipinos. Hindi ko naman kinuha ‘yung opisinang ito para mag-takip para kahit kanino. I did not get this office for that,” Remulla said.

(The revelations are fresh, and we’re still checking on everything. We can’t do anything about it because that’s evidence. This is already an issue close to the hearts of Filipinos. I did not seek the Ombudsman position to protect anybody. I did not get this office for that.)

The Makabayan bloc’s call for a probe on Marcos came a few days after Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte pushed for a congressional inquiry on Co’s claims as these cast “serious doubts” on the integrity of the national budget process.

On Thursday, the Makabayan lawmakers said Lacson’s revelations “have exposed what appears to be a massive corruption scheme operating at the very heart of Malacañang.”

They added that Bernardo’s account “seems to confirm the claims made by Zaldy Co regarding the supposed insertion of P100 billion in bicameral conference committee insertions.”

The opposition lawmakers said Bernardo should be immediately summoned by the appropriate congressional committees and be made to execute statements under oath regarding the alleged involvement of Palace personalities in the issue.

“His testimony is crucial to establishing the full extent of this corruption and identifying all those responsible. His (Bernardo) claim of bringing a 16% commitment to Olaivar suggests a systematic scheme of kickbacks and payoffs,” they said. 

“Palace officials were involved in the insertions and payoffs. The fact that Palace officials allegedly discussed how to carry out these insertions, with former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin reportedly saying ‘We will take care of it,’ indicates coordination at the highest levels of government,” the Makabayan bloc added.

Meanwhile, the opposition solons said the swift resignation of officials “suggest a desperate attempt at damage control rather than genuine accountability.”

“Allowing officials to simply resign without facing investigation and prosecution would be a grave injustice to the Filipino people whose taxpayer money has been plundered,” they said. 

“This is about a system of governance built on theft and betrayal of public trust. The Marcos administration must be held accountable. The Filipino people deserve answers,” the lawmakers added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News