Metro Manila, Philippines – Resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co continued to claim that he did not receive kickbacks but only delivered suitcases filled with cold cash to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez, alleging those amounted to P56 billion.
Co made the allegation in the third part of his tell-all video posted on Sunday, Nov. 16, adding he will reveal more information in the following days despite fearing for his life.
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“‘Yong kay Henry Alcantara at DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) boys, ang sinasabi nilang halaga sa ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) ay P21 billion, hindi totoo ‘yan,” the former lawmaker said.
“Ang totoong numero ay P56 billion at ‘yong halaga na ‘yan ay kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at Martin Romualdez napunta lahat,” he said.
[Translation: The P21 billion figure cited by Henry Alcantara and the DPWH boys to the ICI is not true. The true figure is P56 billion, all of which went to Marcos and Romualdez.]
It was Orly Guteza, a former security consultant of Co, who told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee of the delivery of dozens of luggage of cash from Co’s homes to Romualdez’s residences and the Malacañang. Both Romualdez and the Palace have denied the accusation.
Such a scheme was also cited in ICI’s interim report. The body said the suitcases were also delivered to Co’s penthouse and Pasig residence from 2022 to 2025.
“‘Yong pera wala pong napunta sa akin. Dumaan lang ang pera sa akin para i-deliver kay [former] Speaker Martin Romualdez at Pangulong Marcos,” Co said.
[Translation: No money went to me. The money only passed by me so that I can deliver it to Romualdez and Marcos.]
Co is among the personalities the ICI recommended to be charged due to alleged crimes including direct or indirect bribery and plunder in relation to the flood control anomalies.
In September, the National Bureau of Investigation also recommended Co, other lawmakers, and contractors for filing of charges.
Co, a former chairperson of the House appropriations committee, claimed that the administration is using the country’s resources to keep him silent, adding he might face more cases with his allegations.
He also alleged that Romualdez, in a meeting in March, said “he will shoot me if I will talk.”
“Pagkatapos niyang sabihin sakin in a phone call, ‘Don’t come home, we will take care of you,’ tumawag ulit si Speaker Martin at sinabihan niya ako na kapag umuwi ako [it] will be dangerous,” Co said in his video.
“Kasi they may hire someone to do a rob out on me or hire the police to kill me while in jail,” he alleged.
Co is still outside the Philippines. Malacañang and the Office of the Ombudsman have urged him to return and testify under oath.
