Jamaine Punzalan

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)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte is seeking a House inquiry into former congressman Zaldy Co’s allegation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez orchestrated and benefitted from alleged<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"> insertions in the 2025 budget.</a></p><p>Duterte filed on Tuesday House Resolution 488 urging the chamber to direct the appropriate committee to conduct the probe and invite Co, Department of Public Works and Highways officials, representatives from the Office of the President, the Department of Budget and Management, and other relevant officials.</p><p>“Former Representative Zaldy Co also posted and released a detailed list of the projects with corresponding amounts and contractors of the P100-billion insertion, and that this list may necessitated a deeper investigation to shed light on the truthfulness of the former Representatives’ claims,” the Davao solon said in his resolution.</p><p>“The sheer scale and detail of these allegations may not be overlooked as these disturbing disclosures also point to the interference of the Office of the President contrary to the principles of transparency and separation of powers,” he added.</p><p>In video statements released last Friday and over the weekend, Co claimed that the President, through Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, ordered him to insert P100 billion in the 2025 budget at the bicameral conference committee level. Co alleged that then House Speaker Romualdez supposedly greenlighted its implementation. </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>Co claimed that both Marcos and Romualdez received kickbacks from the alleged insertions.</p><p>Malacanang and Romualdez denied these claims.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/16/palace-zaldy-co-s-suitcase-photos-no-proof-of-his-corruption-allegations-vs-marcos-jr-1242">Palace: Zaldy Co’s suitcase photos no proof of his corruption allegations vs Marcos Jr</a></div><p>During the House plenary session on Wednesday, the resolution was referred to the Rules Committee. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>“NOT ADMISSIBLE”</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The House Minority bloc acknowledged the gravity of Co’s allegations, but said these were not admissible evidence and urged him to return to the country to make his claims under oath.</p><p>“While these grave accusations should merit serious consideration by the proper investigative agencies, former representative Co’s statements, which were circulated through social media, no matter how sensational or widely circulated, do not constitute admissible evidence that can withstand judicial scrutiny,” the bloc said in a statement read by Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando.</p><p>“We urge former Representative Zaldy Co to return to the country and reduce his statements into an affidavit to be duly subscribed under oath before the proper authorities. Doing so will not only allow due process to take its course, enabling a proper evaluation of the merits or demerits of his claims, while affording him the opportunity to respond to the equally serious accusations against him,” they added.</p><p>The bloc asked the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Philippine National Police, and relevant agencies to guarantee Co’s safety upon his return so he can fully participate in the investigations.</p><p>They also called for the immediate enactment of the bill seeking to create the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>IMPEACHMENT </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Without Co’s sworn statement and evidence to back it up, there is no compelling reason yet to file an impeachment complaint against the President, according to Cendana and San Fernando.</p><p>“Mahalaga na kung si Zaldy Co ay confident sa kanyang hawak na mga ebidensya, dapat ilabas niya at umuwi siya. Kasi again, we will go where the evidence will lead us... Until then, wala pang compelling reason. Kasi tingin natin ang impeachment complaint should be founded on facts and evidence,” the Akbayan solon said.</p><p>“Ang problema kasi, walang legal weight ‘yung binabanggit ni former representative Zaldy Co. Ibinulalas niya lang ‘yan sa social media. So that is why we are telling former representative to come home. At kung talagang seryoso ka dyan sa mga allegation mo, sabihin mo ‘yan under oath, so that it will have legal weight,” San Fernando added. </p><p>“Mahirap naman ibabatay natin ‘yung ating mga proseso sa ipinost lang sa social media. Second, I do not think na magpa-prosper ‘yung any impeachment proceedings dahil it&#x27;s a very political process dito sa House of Representatives,” he said.</p><p>As of Wednesday, San Fernando said he has yet to hear of efforts to file an impeachment complaint against the President.</p><p>“Wala pa kaming nababalitaan na may plano na mag-file ng impeachment complaint against the President. Wala rin umabot at hindi rin na pag-uusapan niya ng mga member ng minorya. We are in unison na magkaroon ng imbestigasyon sa lahat ng level ng burokrasya,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO K?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Last Sunday, Vice President Sara Duterte questioned why Co has yet to be brought back to the Philippines, saying the former lawmaker should face the investigation on anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>She also described Marcos Jr. – her running mate during the 2022 presidential elections – as someone who was not truthful to his commitment to public service.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/13/sara-duterte-wants-marcos-jr-romualdez-charged-over-flood-control-scandal-1813">Sara Duterte wants Marcos Jr., Romualdez held accountable over flood control scandal</a></div><p>Cendaña said the VP has “no K” to talk about corruption, citing allegations of confidential fund misuse against her.</p><p>“Iharap muna nila sa kanilang sarili ang salamin. Kasi sila ay nagsasalita on this issue. Hanggang ngayon, unresolved pa rin ‘yung mga ni-raise nating mga punto sa impeachment complaint laban kay VP Sara Duterte pagdating sa paglustay sa kaban ng bayan… Kinikilala natin ‘yung karapatan nila bilang mamamayan na magsalita, pero wala silang K pagdating sa usapin,” he said in a press conference</p><p>San Fernando, meanwhile, clarified that their call for accountability, included all officials who are accused of corruption.</p><p>&quot;Pag sinabi natin lahat ng sangkot dapat managot. Lahat ‘yun… Kahit pa si VP Inday Sara Duterte,” he said.</p><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/le1Zj2jPNbQ" title="FULL: Zaldy Co naglabas ng &#x27;unedited video&#x27; ng kaniyang panig | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte is seeking a House inquiry into former congressman Zaldy Co’s allegation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez orchestrated and benefitted from alleged insertions in the 2025 budget.</p>

Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte is seeking a House inquiry into former congressman Zaldy Co’s allegation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez orchestrated and benefitted from alleged insertions in the 2025 budget.

Paolo Duterte seeks House probe on Zaldy Co’s budget insertion allegations

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Paolo Duterte seeks House probe on Zaldy Co’s budget insertion allegations

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 19, 2025 03:23 PM PHT

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Updated November 19, 2025 03:40 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

Paolo Duterte

Zaldy Co

2025 budget

national budget

budget insertions

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