Metro Manila, Philippines — Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro on Friday, November 14, denied embattled former Rep. Zaldy Co’s claims that President Bongbong Marcos ordered a ₱100-billion insertion in the bicameral version of the 2025 budget.
“Lahat ng mga sinasabi ni Zaldy Co ay imbento lamang, walang basehan, walang ebidensya,” Castro said in a briefing, challenging Co to fly back to the country to face allegations against him.
[Translation: All the claims of Zaldy Co are just hearsay, without basis, without evidence.]
Castro said Co may have made the claims due to lack of other options as he continues to remain in hiding.
“Dahil lumiliit na ang mundo ni Zaldy Co, kailangan niyang umiwas at iiwas ang sarili at mag-namedrop kahit walang katibayan at laway lang ang puhunan,” she said.
[Translation: Since Zaldy Co’s world is shrinking, he has to protect himself. He drops names even without evidence and his proof is only from his claims.]
In a video taped statement, Co said the president ordered a ₱100-billion budget insertion in the bicameral version of the 2025 national budget which implicates Marcos in the flood control mess.
Co resurfaced online with a video taped statement months after going into hiding. He accused Marcos of the insertion, allegedly in coordination with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Pangandaman also denied the claims in the same Palace briefing.
“All appropriations ordered by the President are already in the National Expenditure Program (NEP). That is why it is called the President’s budget,” she said.
“So we reject any insinuations about it.The bicam is purely under the power of the legislature. We respect and strictly follow the budget process and all our actions are above board,” the secretary added.
In 2024, Marcos signed the 2025 national budget but vetoed ₱26 billion worth of projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The 2025 national budget, initially amounting to ₱6.352 trillion was reduced to ₱6.326 trillion following the veto of ₱194 billion worth of line items deemed inconsistent with the administration’s priority programs.
