Ex-solon accuses Marcos Jr, Romualdez of P100B budget insertions; Palace calls it hearsay

Former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co urged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to investigate President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez for alleged P100 billion budget insertions for the 2025 national budget.

Co claimed that Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin were aware of the insertions, with Pangandaman stating Marcos Jr. instructed them.

In a video exposé, Co alleged that he personally delivered suitcases of money to Malacañang Palace and the residences of Marcos Jr. and Romualdez, presenting photographic evidence.

Malacañang, through Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, dismissed Co's allegations as hearsay, without basis, a lie, and propaganda, with Castro calling Co a traitor.

Co also claimed that 25% of the alleged insertions, or P25 billion, was given as "SOP" or kickback to the Office of the President, with the new article clarifying this money went to Marcos Jr. and Romualdez.

However, Co further alleged in a new video that Romualdez threatened to kill him if he "talked" about his involvement in the flood control scam or even returned to the country, and claimed the administration is using the country's resources to silence him.

The kickbacks Co received from questionable flood control projects reached P56 billion, not P21 billion, based on documents submitted by former DPWH Bulacan engineers.

Malacañang, however, dismissed Co's latest allegations as a "comedy series" and stated that the photos of suitcases do not prove his claims against Marcos.