Zaldy Co alleges P1B delivery to Marcos on Romualdez's directive

Former congressman Zaldy Co bared on Monday that he personally delivered around P1 billion to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the directives of then Speaker Martin Romualdez.

"One billion pesos ang personal kong naihatid. Ako mismo ang nagbigay ng pera kasama ng aking driver at mga tauhan, at lahat ito ay base sa direktang utos ni Speaker Martin Romualdez," according to a "24 Oras" report by Tina Panganiban-Perez, citing the latest video posted by Co on his social media.

(One billion pesos was what I personally delivered. I was the one who gave the money together with my driver and staff, and this is based on the direct orders of Speaker Martin Romualdez.)

Co said he received the orders from Romualdez when he assumed the post as chairperson of the House appropriations committee.

"Sinabi na agad sa akin ni Speaker Romualdez na kailangan kong makapag-deliver ng two billion pesos kada buwan (Speaker Romualdez told me that I need to deliver two billion pesos a month)," he said.

The former lawmaker said he was told to give the money to Jojo Cadiz, who has access to the drop off point near the President's house.

"Sinabi rin po sa akin ni Speaker Martin Romualdez na si PBBM (Marcos) ang nag-utos sa kanya na bilhin ang bahay para gamitin bilang bagsakan at imbakan ng pera mula sa mga kolesyon, SOPs at deliveries na para sa pangulo," he said.

(Speaker Romualdez told me that the President ordered him to buy the house to be used as storage area of cash from collections, SOPs, and deliveries for the President.)

In a separate post, Co showed a photo of the alleged list of cash deliveries for the President and Romualdez.

He said he delivered P200 million to Cadiz, whom the latter said would be brought to the President's house.  On December 5, 2024, P800 million more was delivered to the same address, and received by Cadiz.

Co said he brought a total of P55 billion in cash deliveries to the President's house.

"Ang sinabi mismo ni Speaker Martin sa akin na hati sila ni Pangulong Marcos sa perang iyon (No less that Speaker Martin said he and President Marcos shared the money)," Co said.

GMA Integrated News has sought the reaction of Malacanang on the issue, even as Marcos said in a press conference on Monday that Co should just come home and face his cases.  The President also said he is ready to answer allegations against him. —GMA Integrated News