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Palace: Zaldy Co’s suitcase photos no proof of his corruption allegations vs Marcos Jr

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763265787110cropped-Image (6) (1).png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screengrab from Zaldy Co Facebook video</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Malacañang on Sunday said that former Ako Bicol Party-list rep. Zaldy Co’s photos of suitcases do not prove his allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/zaldy-co-breaks-silence-on-flood-control-mess-1214">ordered </a>him to insert P100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget.</div><p>Co, who has been abroad since the flood control mess hit the headlines, broke his silence earlier this week and accused Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of allocating the funding and getting kickbacks from infrastructure projects.</p><p>“Kung ipapakita ba sa iyo yang mga maleta na iyan. Nagpo-prove na iyan ng pera? Wala. Maleta lang,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told DZMM Teleradyo on Sunday morming.</p><p>(If I show you the suitcases. Do they prove there is money? No. Just suitcases.)</p><p>Co posted a Facebook video on Saturday showing photos of luggage that supposedly contained money delivered to Marcos and Romualdez.</p><p>“Anong na-prove niyan? Wala. Paninira. Gawa-gawang kwento,” Castro said.</p><p>(What do they prove? None. Defamation. Made up stories.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CO&#x27;S STORY &#x27;INCONSISTENT&#x27;</strong></div><p>Castro, a lawyer, also pointed out what she said were inconsistencies between Co’s allegations and the dates the suitcases were supposedly delivered.</p><p>Co said some of the luggage was delivered in January, May, June and August of 2024, and that he and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman began communicating around this time.</p><p>But Castro underscored that bicam for the 2025 national budget only began in November of 2024.</p><p>Co claimed that deliveries were also made between January to May of 2025, but Castro noted that Co was no longer the House Appropriations committee chair by then.</p><p>“Paano ka pa makakapag-deliver kung as early as January 13, wala ka na sa position bilang Appropriations Committee chair? Wala kang power,” she said.</p><p>(How can you deliver if as early as January 13, you are no longer in the position as Appropriations Committee chair? You don&#x27;t have power)</p><p>“Dun pa lang sa timeline, sa pinapakitang ebidensiya, hindi nagtutugma-tugma,” she added.</p><p>(The timeline and evidence do not match.)</p><p>The Palace officer also noted that the President vetoed P194 billion from the bicam version, an act that contradicts Co’s allegations against Marcos.</p><p>“Kung gusto niyang magkaroon ng insertions na P100 billion, bakit niya pa tatanggalin yung P194 billion? Hindi ba parang taliwas,” she said.</p><p>(If he wants to insert P100 billion, why did he remove P194 billion? Aren&#x27;t they contradicting?)</p><p>The President, she said, does not have to instruct Co to insert projects in bicam as he could have inserted them in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).</p><p>Castro also noted that the president does not have the mandate over bicam.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘TAKOT BUMALIK SA PILIPINAS’</strong></div><p>Castro said that Co&#x27;s allegations are not credible as he is making them from abroad despite several calls for him to come back.</p><p>“Anong credibility ang maibibigay sa kanya kung siya mismo takot bumalik sa Pilipinas para magsalaysalay?” the communications officer said.  </p><p>(What credibility can be given to him if he is afraid to come back to the Philippines to testify?)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/lacson-says-zaldy-co-s-corruption-claims-lack-weight-without-oath-1903"><strong>Lacson says Zaldy Co’s corruption claims lack weight without oath</strong></a></div><p>Castro said Co&#x27;s sworn testimony would prompt government agencies to extend the probe to Romualdez’s alleged involvement, especially amid criticisms that the former House speaker is being protected due to his blood ties with Marcos.</p><p>“Kung tatayong witness si Zaldy Co laban kay speaker Romauldez, umuwi na siya. Gumawa siya ng salaysay under oath kung gusto niyang mapanagot ang mga ito,” she said.</p><p>(If Zaldo Co is to stand as a witness against speaker Romualdez, he should come back. Testify under oath if he wants them to be held accountable.)</p><p>Romualdez on Saturday <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/romualdez-says-co-s-allegations-do-not-hold-water-in-court-1750">denied </a>Co&#x27;s allegations, saying they &quot;were not made under oath and do not hold water in the court of law.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/zaldy-co-senate-ombudsman-should-probe-romualdez-and-marcos-over-alleged-p100-b-insertion-1249"><strong>Zaldy Co: Senate, Ombudsman should probe Romualdez and Marcos over alleged P100-B ‘insertion’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘TINGIN KO GINAMIT SIYA’</strong></div><p>When asked for Co’s possible motive behind his allegations, Castro said the former lawmaker may be being used and influenced by personalities who want Marcos out of his position.</p><p>While Castro did not give a specific name on who she thinks is behind the allegations, she said: “Kapag tinanggal mo ang pangulo ngayon, sino ang papalit? Ang papalit ay anak ng magnanakaw.”</p><p>(If you remove the president, who will take over? The child of a thief.)</p><p>Funding for flood control and other infrastructure projects started to balloon in 2016, when Vice President Sara Duterte’s father, Rodrigo Duterte, was the country’s chief executive.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/cbcp-calls-for-truth-justice-and-due-process-after-zaldy-co-s-allegations-0100"><strong>CBCP calls for ‘truth, justice and due process’ after Zaldy Co’s allegations</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CqGJKV0CAGQ?si=hQYSr6f1d8_atAp7" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Malacañang on Sunday said former Ako Bicol Party-list rep. Zaldy Co’s photos of suitcases are not proof of his allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered him to insert P100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget.</p>

Malacañang on Sunday said former Ako Bicol Party-list rep. Zaldy Co’s photos of suitcases are not proof of his allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered him to insert P100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget.