Palace fights back on Zaldy Co: ‘Return to the Philippines’

After a “bombshell” of a statement made by former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. - a day after he pinned the former solon’s alleged ties to the flood control anomalies, Malacañang Palace pushed back.

In a press briefing late Friday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) acting Secretary Dave Gomez, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro came to the defense of the administration.

Gomez rebuked Co’s accusations as “completely without basis in fact” and “pure hearsay”.

“President Marcos Jr. himself exposed all these flood control anomalies and has taken numerous steps since to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice, the stolen wealth recovered and the system is fixed to avoid any of this from happening again,” he said.

He also urged the former lawmaker to return to the Philippines and make his statement under oath.

Pangandaman, for her part, emphasized that the budget came from the President himself, denying Co’s statements further.

She also explained that budget insertions may be done in Congress and not at the Executive branch.

“The bicameral conference (bicam) is purely under the power of the legislature. We respect and strictly follow the budget process, and all our actions are above board,” she said.

“If you recall the budget process, the Executive has been preparing our President’s budget and National Expenditure Program for six months. According to the Constitution, we have 30 days after the state-of-the-nation address to submit the National Expenditure Program to Congress. And according to the Constitution, after we submit the budget to Congress, we will have briefings, right? So, the Executive also did that to explain what the President’s budget and the National Expenditure Program are,” Pangandaman pointed out.

What will happen to Zaldy Co?

Malacañang remains firm that the fate of Zaldy Co rests upon the cases that will be filed in the Ombudsman.

“As far as we know, there are pending complaints filed against him, and I hope the Ombudsman can expedite the resolution of these cases. And if they can recommend anything they can recommend, for dismissal or for filing of the case to the Sandiganbayan, I hope it will be expedited because the people are also waiting for quick action,” Castro said.

Castro explained that Co may not be forced to return to the country or get his passport cancelled yet as he has not been formally charged before the Philippine courts.

P100-B inserted? Palace says how?

Malacañang asked how could the President have inserted P100 billion if he himself drafted the national budget?

“If the President, as Zaldy Co said, is a “king”, why would he put the 100 billion pesos in the insertion when it can be included in the NEP itself? So, that's strange, and we know that it seems like someone made up his story and it seems like he doesn't understand what he's saying there,” Castro said.

The Palace officer added that the President is not that concerned with Zaldy Co’s accusations as “he knows the truth” as he himself ordered the probe on the anomalous flood control projects.

“We can't say he doesn't take it seriously. The accusation, no matter what happens, someone might believe it. That's why we're just giving you the truth now, and we can't blame Zaldy Co because we know his world is getting smaller,” Castro said.

Wait for Zaldy’s Part 2

While Malacañang said it is not taking any further steps against Zaldy Co other than denying his claims, Castro said there is a second part of the lawmakers “revelations”.

“There is still part 2, he said, ‘Stay tuned for part 2.’ It seems like it’s only part 1. So, he’ll probably make up a new story because he’s heard what we said,” she said.

“So, let’s stay tuned for what other twisted stories you’ll hear from him. So be cautious,” she added. 

Disruptors, destabilizers may be behind Zaldy Co

There is no confirmed group or individual behind Zaldy Co and his statements but Malacañang believes that it may be the obstructionist or destabilizers or just the world of the lawmaker getting smaller.