Co claims he only delivered money to Marcos

Co claims he only delivered money to Marcos | Daily Tribune

A newly uploaded video by former congressman and one of the accused in the anomalous flood control scandal, Zaldy Co, alleged that he is merely a middleman for the money deliveries and does not receive any portion in relation to the controversy.

“The truth is, from 2022 to 2025, the total money that passed through me to be given to President Bongbong Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez reached P56 billion, and that's separate from the President's P100 billion insertion in the 2025 budget,” he claimed, refuting former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Usec. Roberto Bernardo’s claim that Co received P21 billion.

Co also added that the deliveries include the P97 billion flood control insertion placed in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) of the 2026 National Budget.

He then proceeded to explain his role in the money deliveries, which were carried out from 2022 to 2025, according to him.

“I want to clarify, I do not interfere in the delivery process itself. I am the only one who confirms the text with the Speaker when the money is delivered to his house,” he explained.

In the most recent account of money delivery, Co recalled personally bringing cash alongside his aides and driver, including a P200 million delivery to Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz at No. 30 Tamarind Street, South Forbes Park, a house used as a depository and storage for money from SOPs, collections, and deliveries for the President.

"The next one was on 5 December 2024, where I again delivered P800 million to the same address and Usec. Jojo Cadiz was the recipient again," he said.

Breed of greed

The contractor-turned-congressman detailed how the alleged corruption began in 2022, when he assumed office as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.

“As soon as I took office, Speaker [Martin] Romualdez immediately told me that I had to deliver P2 billion every month,” he expressed.

A few days later, he claimed that after Bernardo called him to ask for assistance with Bulacan's flood crisis, the former DPWH undersecretary sent DPWH Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara to Co's Congress office.

“During our meeting with [Henry] Alcantara, he himself offered the division of the DPWH projects: 22 percent for Speaker [Martin] Romualdez, 2 percent for Usec. Bernardo, and 1 percent for him,” Co continued.

From then on, the deliveries were made.

“Henry Alcantara's people are in contact with my people John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay. They are the ones who receive money from Alcantara's people,” he said.

According to Co, Tecsay and Estrada receive the money in different locations such as his residence at Valle Verde in Pasig City or at BGC Parking. After the delivery, his aides coordinate with Romualdez's staff, including Jocelyn Sereño, for the transfer of the luggages to the former House Speaker’s residences, which vary from North Forbes Park on McKinley Drive to 14th Street South Forbes Park.

Receipts, received

Not long after uploading the video, Co posted a series of photos, including screenshots of the schedules and amounts delivered, alongside photos of luggages filled with money. The caption stated that the deliveries were sent to Romualdez and Marcos.

Come back home, Co

Despite calls from the administration for the former congressman to return to the Philippines, he argued that there is a “big threat” to his life.

“The administration will announce that I am a terrorist inside and outside the Philippines,” Co expressed.