MANILA, Philippines — Former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co on Friday broke his silence on the flood control scandal, asserting that he was used as a scapegoat amid mounting allegations linking him to irregularities.
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| Screenshot from Zaldy Co's video message. |
In a video statement, Co explained that he left the country in July for a medical checkup and had initially planned to return after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address.
However, Co claimed that then–House Speaker Martin Romualdez advised him against coming home.
According to Co, Romualdez told him in a phone call: “Stay out of the country. You will be well taken care of as instructed by the President.”
Co said he followed the instruction in good faith. “Noon naniniwala pa ako sa kanila, kaya hindi ako bumalik. Tumikom ang aking bibig, sumunod ako. Pero ang hindi ko alam, ang ibig pala nilang sabihin sa aalagaan ka namin ay gagamitin ako bilang panakip-butas sa kanilang kampanya laban sa korapsyon. Ginawa nila akong poster boy ng kanilang sariling kasinungalingan,” he said.
“Ngayon, hindi na ako mananahimik, ilalabas ko ang lahat ng katotohanan. May resibo, may ebidensya, at may pangalan.”
PANUORIN: Narito po ang aking paliwanag sa mga isyu na ibinabato sa akin. Paumanhin sa aking matagal na pananahimik. Isisiwalat ko na po ang katotohanan na aking nalalaman. pic.twitter.com/X0b7uqLwcg
— Zaldy Co (@zaldyco_) November 14, 2025
Claims on Budget Instructions
Co also alleged that at the start of the bicameral discussions in 2024, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman informed him that she had met with President Marcos and relayed supposed instructions for him to insert around ₱100 billion worth of projects into the national budget.
He said he later verified the information with Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.
“Right after our conversation, tinawagan ko po si Dating Speaker Martin Romualdez, at nireport ko ang instructions ng Presidente to insert the P100 billion projects, at sinabi niya sa akin ‘What the President wants, he gets,’” Co said.
“Kaya po nagtataka ako kung bakit sinasabi ni Pangulo na hindi niya makilala ang budget, samantalang lahat na ibinawas at idinagdag sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno ay humihingi ng approval sa kanya si Sec. Mina Pangandaman,” he added.
As of this writing, Malacañang, Romualdez, and the Department of Budget and Management have not yet issued responses to Co’s allegations.
— The Summit Express