Nelson Morales

‘Bakit ka nagtatago?’: Marcos says Zaldy Co claims ‘mean nothing’ while he’s in hiding

Article (news)

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shrugged off Zaldy Co&#x27;s recent accusations linking him to over P50 billion alleged kickbacks related to infrastructure projects and budget insertions, stating such claims &quot;meant nothing&quot; while the former lawmaker remained in hiding.</p><p>&quot;Well looking at the quality of the statements, mahaba na naging usapan natin sa fake news. Anyone can go online and say all kinds of things. It means nothing,&quot; Marcos said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/20/lacson-stands-by-defense-of-marcos-jr-on-zaldy-co-s-claims-1753">Lacson stands by defense of Marcos Jr. on Zaldy Co&#x27;s claims</a></div><p>He called on the former lawmaker to come home and prove his accusations.</p><p>&quot;For it to mean something, umuwi siya rito, sabihin niya malalaman naman ng tao &#x27;yan. Patunayan niya. Come home, bakit ka nagtatago sa malayo? Ako hindi ako nagtatago e, kung may akusasyon sa akin, nandito ako,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>Earlier on Monday, Co posted photos listing down the alleged deliveries made from 2022 to 2025 for Marcos and his cousin former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>He also reiterated he could not come due to supposed threats to his life.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/21/arrest-warrant-out-for-zaldy-co-others-tagged-in-flood-control-mess-marcos-jr-1635">Arrest warrants out for Zaldy Co, others tagged in flood control mess — Marcos Jr.</a></div><p>&quot;Hindi po ako makauwi dahil malaki ang banta sa buhay ko. Ngayon naman ay mayroon kaming natanggap na balita. Papalabasin ng administrasyon na ako ay isang terorista sa loob at labas ng bansa, para mailibing ako kasama ang katotohanan,&quot; Co said in a video.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_GjpRTMv95I?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dG3udyH5LD4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shrugged off former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co's recent accusations linking him to over P50 billion alleged kickbacks related to public works projects and budget insertions, stating such claims remain nothing unless proven by Co himself.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shrugged off former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co's recent accusations linking him to over P50 billion alleged kickbacks related to public works projects and budget insertions, stating such claims remain nothing unless proven by Co himself.