Former congressman Zaldy Co alleged that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. pushed for a ₱100-billion budget insertion in the 2025 national budget and ultimately received ₱25 billion from the arrangement, saying the President was “happy” because the funding he wanted was secured.
In the second part of his pre-recorded video exposé, Co — who left the country in August — unleashed direct, detailed, and damning accusations against Marcos and his cousin, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, with names, numbers, mansions, and his most explosive claim – 25% “SOP” allegedly straight to the top.
Co said that after Congress approved the 2025 General Appropriations Act, officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) told him the President’s office was entitled to a 25% share from the ₱100-billion insertion.
“Ang sinagot sa akin ay 25%. Ang ibig sabihin nito, 25% ng ₱100B ang SOP na kailangan ibigay kay BBM mismo. In total, ₱25B ang napunta kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos.”
Co said he did not keep any of the alleged proceeds: “Wala pong perang napunta sa akin.”
Deliveries to Forbes and Malacañang
Co claimed the cash was physically delivered by his team, naming Paul Estrada, Mark Tecsay, and several security personnel as those who transported the funds.
“Lahat po ng insersyon napunta sa ating Pangulo at Speaker Martin Romualdez. Ako lang at ang aking mga tao… ang nag-deliver papunta sa bahay nila Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at Speaker Martin Romualdez sa North Forbes Park, South Forbes Park, hanggang sa Malacañang.”
He corroborated the Senate testimony of former security consultant Orly Guteza, who earlier described multiple convoys transporting luggage filled with cash.
“Totoo po yung sinasabi ni Orly Guteza na nag-deliver siya sa Forbes Park. Totoo din po ang sinasabi niya na nag-deliver siya sa Malacañang,” Co said, adding that he showed photos and delivery records in his video.
‘Cleared with the President’
Co reiterated that Budget Secretary Mina Pangandaman repeatedly assured him during the bicameral conference that Marcos had approved the adjustments.
“Sinabi ni Sec. Mina na approved na si Presidente BBM sa lahat ng binawas at dinagdag ng mga ahensya. Masaya na ang Pangulo dahil naipasok ang gusto niyang ₱100B insertion.”
He said he regularly coordinated with Romualdez during the process.
“I informed the Speaker and asked clearance about the instructions ng Pangulo at ang sabi niya: wala tayong magagawa.”
Co said this is why he cannot understand Marcos’ public claim that he is “unfamiliar” with the budge. Co said Pangandaman gave these assurances even before he and Sen. Chiz Escudero finalized the bicameral report, making Marcos’ denial inconsistent with the process he witnessed.
Co challenged Ombudsman Boying Remulla to act on his public commitment to investigate anyone implicated in the widening budget scandal.
“Patunayan niya ang pronouncement niya. Imbistigahan niya ang fraternity brod at kaibigan niyang si Speaker Martin Romualdez… Imbistigahan din niya si President Bongbong Marcos.”
But Co said he did not expect the Ombudsman to implicate either official, urging instead a Senate investigation.
“Magaling ang Senado sa imbistigasyon at ako ay naniniwala na dahil sa kanila lalabas ang katotohanan.”
‘May resibo, may ebidensya, may pangalan’
Co said he acted under pressure and now fears for his safety as the administration allegedly seeks to silence him.
“Sana po ay hindi nila ako mapatay bago ko mailabas ang lahat. Hindi na ako mananahimik. May resibo, may ebidensya, at may pangalan.”
He invoked Marcos’s own words from his State of the Nation Address:
“Let’s do it right at mahiyà naman kayo, hindi po ba?”
Bottomline
Co is directly accusing President Marcos and former Speaker Romualdez of personally benefiting from a ₱100B budget insertion — with Marcos allegedly getting a 25% SOP or ₱25B, and cash supposedly delivered in bags and maletas to Forbes mansions and Malacañang. If he proves this with the “resibo, ebidensya, at pangalan” he promised, the flood-control scam stops being just a bureaucratic anomaly and becomes a full-blown crisis at the very top of government.
RELATED ARTICLE
New 5-year low: PSE tanks, peso falls as Zaldy Co tags Bongbong Marcos in P100B budget insertion
