Manila, Philippines – Embattled former Rep. Zaldy Co has surfaced for the first time since he was tagged in the flood control scandal and budget insertions on Friday, Nov. 14.
In a taped video statement, Co alleged that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered a P100-billion budget insertion in the bicameral version of the 2025 national budget.
The president’s directive was coursed through Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Co said.
“Nagsimula nung tumawag si Sec. Minah Pangandaman sa akin noong nag-umpisa. May instruction na mag-insert ng P100 billion worth of insertions sa bicam sabi ni Sec. Minah,” he said.
“Right after tinawagan ko (si) Romualdez at nireport ang instruction ng president to insert the hundred billion projects. Sabi niya, what the president wants, (he) gets,” Co added.
The former congressman, visibly thinner and pale than his last public appearance, claimed he was ordered by the president’s cousin former House Speaker Martin Romualdez not to return to the Philippines after the ghost flood project issue was exposed by Marcos in August.
“Stay out of the country. You will be well taken care of, as instructed by the president,” Co said he was told in his taped message.
“Noon naniniwala pa ako sa kanila, kaya hindi ako bumalik… Ginawa nila akong poster boy ng kanilang sariling kasinungalingan,” he said.
Co, who emerged at the center of the flood control controversy, left for the US in September and has not returned to the country since.
NewsWatch Plus is trying to get the side of Pangandaman, Romualdez and Malacanang. Their offices have yet to respond to requests for comment.
