Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co claimed on Friday, Nov. 14, that the Marcos administration is doing everything in its power to “silence” him, even as he accused the President of personally ordering P100 billion worth of project insertions in the P6.326-trillion national budget for 2025.
In a six-minute video message simply titled “Part 1”, Co—who had been in hiding abroad amid his alleged links to budget insertions and the flood control projects mess—said he was now ready to “tell all.”
“Ginawa ko lang ang utos sa akin pero ngayon handa na akong harapin ang lahat. Ginagamit ng administrasyon ang buong resources ng bansa para tumahimik ako,” Co said.
“Ngayon, hindi na akong mananahimik, ilalabas ko ang lahat ng katotohanan. May resibo, may ebidensya at may pangalan.”
The video—shared on Co’s Facebook and by Ako Bicol to House reporters—was edited to include snippets of future exposés.
“Sana po ay hindi nila ako mapatay bago ko mailabas ang lahat,” the ex-congressman added, without specifying where the threat was coming from.
Co said he had been turned into the administration’s scapegoat in its anti-corruption campaign.
“Para sa bawat Pilipino, alam ko na buo ang galit ninyo sa akin ngayon… Pero bago kayo humusga, hayaan ninyong ipaliwanag ko ang buong katotohanan,” he said.
He revealed that he left the Philippines on July 19, 2025 for a medical check-up, intending to return after the President’s State of the Nation Address.
But before flying back, then-Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly called him with instructions: “‘Stay out of the country. You will be well taken care of as instructed by the President,’” Co quoted Romualdez as saying.
Initially, Co said he trusted the assurance. But he now believes the administration used him as a “poster boy” for corruption, shielding higher officials.
“Ginawa nila akong panakip butas sa kanilang kampanya laban sa korupsyon. Ginawa nila akong poster boy ng kanilang sariling kasinungalingan,” he said.
Alleged P100-B Budget Insertion
Co also accused President Marcos of ordering P100 billion worth of project insertions during the bicameral conference process in 2024.
“Nagsimula ito no’ng tumawag si [Department of Budget and Management] Sec. Mina Pangandaman sa akin… may instructions na mag-insert ng P100 billion worth of projects sa bicam,” Co said, appearing gaunt in an oversized brown blazer.
He said Pangandaman told him to confirm with Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, who affirmed that the directive came directly from Marcos.
“Right after our conversation, tinawagan ko po si dating Speaker Martin Romualdez at ni-report ko ang instructions ng Presidente… at sinabi niya sa akin, ‘What the President wants, he gets,’” Co recalled.
Co resigned as Ako Bicol congressman last Sept. 29 amid calls for him to return to the country and face allegations regarding budget insertions and the flood control projects scandal.
He further claimed that Bersamin later handed him a list of infrastructure projects worth P100 billion.
“Tinanong ko po si Usec. Adrian kung saan galing ang listahan, ang sagot niya, galing kay PBBM mismo at binigay niya ito mula sa brown leather bag,” Co said.
Co, who once served as House Committee on Appropriations chairman, said he followed orders but is now prepared to expose the truth.
“Matagal akong hindi nagsalita dahil may direktang utos sa akin… Pero ngayon, hindi na akong mananahimik,” he declared.
The video hinted at more exposés to come, with Co promising to release documents and evidence implicating top officials. (Ellson Quismorio)
