Ched Rick Gatchalian

A screengrab from a video released by former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the insertion of P100-B worth of projects in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). (Courtesy of Zaldy Co) 

 

Article (news)

House party leaders slam Zaldy Co over corruption allegations

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — House party leaders have denied various allegations made by former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co on the flood control corruption scandal, with House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno insisting Co is likely the “most guilty.” </p><p>In a press conference on Monday, Puno said the majority in Congress remains “solid” and in support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following recent “made up” stories.</p><p>Puno, House Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez, House Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan, House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong, Mountain Province Lone District Representative and Nacionalista Party’s Maximo Dalog Jr., were present at the press conference.</p><p>&quot;I guess dito pa lang makikita natin may message na talaga that the majority is solid in Congress na hindi kami nalilito or nagugulat diyan sa mga sinasabing mga imbentong kuwento. At we felt that it was necessary for us to come forward and at least say something specific kung ano ‘yung feelings namin as a party... I think by and large, in fact everybody is in support of President Marcos here,” Puno told the media.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/romualdez-says-co-s-allegations-do-not-hold-water-in-court-1750">Romualdez says Co&#x27;s allegations &#x27;do not hold water in court&#x27;</a></div><p>Puno and Adiong were also quick to deny accusations made by Co against former House speaker Rep. Martin Romualdez.</p><p>Considering Co worked closely with Romualdez, Puno said he finds it hard to believe that the former House speaker would threaten to shoot Co.</p><p>Co released a series of videos over the weekend addressing allegations against him and adding some of his own.</p><p>Among them is a claim that Romualdez would “shoot” him if he spoke up.</p><p>Puno also called it “very presumptuous” for Co to be accusing anyone now, as he is the “most guilty.”</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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zaldy Co: Senate, Ombudsman should probe Romualdez and Marcos over alleged P100-B ‘insertion’</a></div><p>“Everybody knows naman that he worked very closely with Speaker Romualdez. Para ‘yung mga sinasabi niya ngayon na sinabihan siya na pababaril siya, na sinabihan siya ang ganito ganyan. Parang ako, personally, hindi ako na naniniwala kasi hindi ganoon ng relasyon ng dalawa sa tingin ko dahil obviously, even if they did not agree in the later stages of last year until this year, matagal sila nagsama’t wala naman ganyan sigurong relasyon. So for him to accuse anybody at this point in time, I think, is very presumptuous. Kasi siya na ngayong pinaka guilty dito,” Puno said.</p><p>Puno added, he feels Co is only mentioning names of individuals often brought up in the flood corruption scandal to appear credible.</p><p>Meanwhile, Adiong said all of them can testify there is “no inch of violence” in Romualdez’s system.</p><p>“Kung ako tatanungin, I think the speaker having served the House of Representatives for more than three years, all of us can testify that he has no inch of violence in his system. In fact, inaano nga eh. Wala hong kabayobayolente itong taong ‘to…That&#x27;s why the entire House, the entire House voted him twice as a speaker,” Adiong said.</p><p>There not being much insertions allotted to areas in the North makes it unlikely the president is involved as alleged by Co, according to Dalog.</p><p>“Taga-norte naman si Presidente– sana kami ang mas nakakarami doon. Kung talagang insertion yun ni Presidente, kaya kung minsan parang sa amin na taga-norte, it&#x27;s quite unbelievable na mag-insert si Presidente tapos hindi kami ang magbe-benefit na taga-north. Kasi taga-norte naman talaga siya. Kung titingnan mo naman, almost 90% ng panalo ni Presidente from the north eh,” Dalog said.</p><p>For Singson-Meehan, there is a need to check if the information on Co’s assets match with what is stated in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).</p><div> </div><div><strong>PUNO DEFENDS ICI PROBE FOLLOWING DUTERTE STATEMENT</strong></div><p>It is “not true” that the investigation on the corruption scandal is not proceeding well, Puno said in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement.</p><p>Earlier, Duterte said the president is facing a “profound crisis of confidence” and the probe into corruption schemes appears to “lack both direction and resolve.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/17/sara-duterte-hits-marcos-jr-s-lack-of-direction-resolve-in-corruption-probe-1309">‘Profound crisis of confidence’: Sara Duterte hits Marcos Jr.’s ‘lack of direction, resolve’ in corruption probe</a></div><p>“The investigation is proceeding well. I think the ICI (Independent Commission on Infrastructure) is doing a good job. And siyempre, the courts are gonna take over,” Puno said, adding that once a case is filed in court, Co’s passport could soon be cancelled.</p><p>Referring to Co, Puno added, “Baka nagpa-panic siya kasi alam niya malapit na kasi kung sinusundan ninyo ang ginagawa ng ICI, ng Department of Justice at ang ombudsman ngayon, sobrang daming ebidensiyang lumalabas.”</p><div> </div><div><strong>NUP WANTS EXPEDITED PROBE INTO CO’S ALLEGATIONS</strong></div><p>The National Unity Party (NUP) called on the ICI to conduct an “intensified and expedited investigation” into Co’s allegations, including Romualdez supposedly telling Co to remain outside of the Philippines as instructed by the chief executive.</p><p>Listed below are the accusations the NUP wants investigated:</p><p>1. That Former Speaker Martin Romualdez told Mr. Co to stay outside the country when he left the Philippines on July 19, 2025, allegedly at the instructions of President Marcos; </p><p>2. That Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, instructed Mr. Co at the start of the bicameral conference committee deliberations for the 2025 budget to insert at least ₱100 billion worth of projects into the bicameral version; </p><p>3. That a meeting was later held at the Aguado Building near Malacañang, with Former Speaker Romualdez, Secretary Pangandaman, Mr. Co, and Undersecretaries Jojo Cadiz and Adrian Bersamin, where he was handed a list of projects worth ₱100 billion; </p><p>4. That Former Speaker Romualdez allegedly threatened to “shoot” Congressman Co during a March 2025 meeting in connection with the floodcontrol project controversy</p><p>The party also asked Co to appear and testify under oath to the allegations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/6/zaldy-co-s-lawyer-says-accusations-against-client-must-be-specific-detailed-1628">Zaldy Co’s lawyer says accusations against client must be specific, detailed</a></div><p>“We urge the full cooperation of the high-ranking officials mentioned above. We further call for Mr. Co to appear before these investigations and testify under oath to these accusations he publicly raised. If his assertions are grounded in fact, then there can be no fear in bringing the full truth to light,” the statement reads.</p>

<p>House party leaders have denied various allegations made by former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co on the flood control corruption scandal, with House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno insisting Co is likely the “most guilty.”</p>

House party leaders have denied various allegations made by former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co on the flood control corruption scandal, with House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno insisting Co is likely the “most guilty.”

‘Most guilty, not credible’: House party leaders slam Zaldy Co

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‘Most guilty, not credible’: House party leaders slam Zaldy Co

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 17, 2025 05:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Zaldy Co

House of Representatives

Flood control

Corruption

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Malacañang

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