Minority Bloc: Zaldy Co’s testimony is ‘damning exposé’ implicating Marcos in P100-B budget scandal

The House Minority Bloc on Friday described former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co’s video testimony as a “damning exposé” that directly implicates President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and other high-ranking officials in what they called systematic corruption in the national budget through massive illegal insertions.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio stressed that President Marcos is not exempt from accountability in the ongoing flood control corruption scandal.

“He signed into law the General Appropriations Act of 2023, 2024 and 2025 that included unprecedented levels of funding for flood control,” Tinio said.

“He was directly responsible for approving 3,700 flood control and other infrastructure projects from Unprogrammed Appropriations in 2023 and 2024,” he added.

Tinio said that Co’s claim — that President Marcos ordered the insertion of P100 billion into the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget for 2025 — is a statement “straight from the horse’s mouth.”

“Pres. Marcos must now address these allegations squarely, submit himself to an independent investigation and face the consequences,” Tinio said.

Kabataan Rep. Atty. Renee Co claimed that the video confirms three points their bloc has been raising since the pork barrel scandal during the Aquino administration: that corruption is systematic across administrations; that Malacañang is the “center of corrupt operations” sustained by political dynasties and pork barrel allocations; and that the present anti-corruption campaign is a “massive cover-up designed to favor one political bloc over another.”

“The Philippine government is a syndicate and the Mafia boss is the president since the time of Marcos Sr. Up to the time of Marcos Jr., we will reiterate: Investigate all of the officials involved including Marcos Jr.,” she said.

The Minority Bloc called for an immediate investigation into President Marcos’ alleged role in the P100-billion budget insertion, alongside former Speaker Martin Romualdez, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Undersecretary Bersamin, and Zaldy Co.

“People's money is being stolen while teachers lack classrooms and teaching materials, while students have no chairs and books, while women and children lack access to healthcare, and while workers cannot feed their families due to low wages and high prices,” their statement read.

Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Elijah “Eli” San Fernando said the allegations validate his earlier warning that President Marcos is not “safe” from the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.

“You are not safe, Mr. President — PBBM and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. This is what we were saying for so long, it is impossible that the president has no knowledge or involvement, contrary to what the Palace is saying,” San Fernando said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list urged Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines and assist the ongoing probe.

“We urge former Rep. Zaldy Co to return to the country and fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation into the anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects. He should take an oath and tell the whole truth before the proper forum,” Rep. Leila De Lima said.