Ex-Rep Zaldy Co challenges Ombudsman to probe Marcos Jr., Romualdez over alleged P100B budget insertion

Former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co challenged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to investigate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez regarding an alleged P100 billion insertion in the 2025 national budget.

Co reiterated his claim of receiving instructions to insert projects into the national budget and personally delivering suitcases of money to Marcos and Romualdez.

In response, the Office of the Ombudsman urged Co to submit his statements through the proper process for examination.

Romualdez denied the allegations, stating that Co's social media statements "do not hold water in the court of law" and that his conscience is clear.

President Marcos Jr. also brushed off Co's allegations, stating he did not want to dignify what Co was saying.

Lakas-CMD, the ruling party in the House of Representatives led by Romualdez, defended their leader by stating that Co has presented no evidence to support his corruption allegations.

The party maintained that Romualdez had no involvement in the alleged corruption scheme, which supposedly stemmed from fund insertions in the Department of Public Works and Highways budget and from projects awarded to favored contractors.

Romualdez expressed confidence that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the DOJ, and the Ombudsman will evaluate all statements fairly based on evidence.