Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

Jervis Manahan

Harlene Delgado

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/1764906951411Screen Shot 2025-12-05 at 11.54.41 AM_cropped_processed_by_imagy.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Justice Undersecretary Jose Cadiz led the Philippine delegation to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) 74th Executive Committee Session to reaffirm commitment to the protection and inclusion of refugees and persons of concern in Oct. 2023. Photo from the DOJ website</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA (<strong>3rd UPDATE</strong>) — Department of Justice Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz has resigned from his post, Malacañang said on Friday, days after former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co accused the official of being President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s bagman in alleged corruption schemes.</p><p>The announcement also came a day after a Rappler report found that, in 2023, Cadiz’s 19-year-old son was named as the top official of a contracting company that won millions worth of government projects.</p><p>“Sa ating pagkakaalam siya ay nagsubmit na ng resignation,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters when asked to comment on the recent report about Cadiz.</p><p>(As far as we know, he has submitted his resignation)</p><p>But Castro said she is not privy as to when Cadiz submitted his resignation letter, and if the DOJ executive previously worked as the president’s aide.</p><p>“If there is a need for an investigation on that issue let the investigation be done,” she also said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>REEVALUATION</strong></div><div> </div><p>Castro did not directly answer if there is a pressing need for Malacañang to re-evaluate its officials for possible conflicts of interest and other dubious transactions, but underscored that Cadiz’s resignation is a positive development for the public.</p><p>“Hindi ba dapat ikatuwa ng taumbayan kung mayroon mang mga tao na kaalyado ng Pangulo na kapag nainvolve kahit wala pang judgement o desisyon ay umaalis?” she said.</p><p>(Shouldn&#x27;t the people be glad that when an ally of the president is implicated, they resign even if there is no judgment or decision on them yet?)</p><p>“Hindi po ba mas maganda po iyon dahil ibig sabihin hindi nagtotolerate ang Pangulo kung mayroon man?” she said.</p><p>(Isn&#x27;t that better because it means the president would not tolerate this?)</p><div> </div><div><strong>DOJ CONFIRMS CADIZ RESIGNATION</strong></div><p> The DOJ confirmed that  Cadiz has tendered his resignation.</p><p>However, DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez said they have no information whether this has been “accepted or acted upon” by the Office of the President.</p><p>“As fas as the DOJ is concerned, what we know is Usec. Cadiz has tendered his resignation with the Office of the President being a presidential appointee, but as whether or not this appointment has been accepted or acted upon, we have no news yet,” Martinez said in a briefing Friday.</p><p>When asked when did Cadiz file his resignation, Martinez said they cannot give the definite date, noting that his resignation was directed to the OP and that the DOJ “had no involvement in this matter”.</p><p>Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said Cadiz reported to work last Monday and “has been continuously reporting” after that day.</p><p>Cadiz is the latest high-ranking official to step down from his post after being named in Co’s series of videos, claiming the President’s involvement in massive corruption schemes.</p><p>Last month, then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and then-Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman exited the Marcos Jr. Cabinet after they were mentioned in Co’s videos.</p><p>The Malacañang and the President said that allegations from Co — who remains in hiding — hold no water unless he returns to the Philippines to make these statements under oath.</p><div><strong> </strong></div><div><strong>MAKABAYAN: RESIGNATIONS INDICATE ZALDY CO&#x27;S CLAIMS HAVE WEIGHT</strong></div><p>For the Makabayan bloc at the House, Cadiz&#x27;s resignation indicate that Co&#x27;s allegations may have substance.</p><p>ACT Teacher&#x27;s Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said Co tagged Cadiz and Pangandaman in his series of accusatory videos.</p><p>&quot;Parang pag-amin ito na may laman talaga ang sinasabi ni Zaldy Co, kung gayon ibig sabihin, kailangan pakinggan din sinasabi ni Zaldy Co na ang dalawang yan ay nagtatrabaho para sa presidente,&quot; Tinio said in an online press conference.</p><p>(It is like an admission that Zaldy Co&#x27;s allegations have substance and that means we should look into his allegations that they worked on the president&#x27;s behalf.)</p><p>He added he believes the Palace already has a scheme in place to insulate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from the flood-control controversy, which he said includes quickly letting go of several government officials to keep them from talking.</p><p>&quot;Ito na yung modus ng cover-up, kaya hamon natin ito sa investigating bodies gaya ng Ombudsman, DOJ, ICI, and Blue Ribbon Committee, kailangan ituloy ang imbestigasyon at ipatawag ang mga ito,&quot; he said.</p><p>(This is the cover-up, that is why we are challenging investigating bodies like the Ombudsman, DOJ, Independent Commission for Infrastructure and Blue Ribbon Committee to continue their investigations and summon these former officials.)</p><p>Kabataan Party-List Rep. Renee Co said public trust in the anti-corruption drive of the Marcos administration has fallen.</p><p>&quot;Alam ng taumbayan na puro pagpapakitang tao lang ang anti-corruption drive,&quot; she added.</p><p>(The people know that this anti-corruption drive is just for show.)</p>

<p>Malacañang on Friday announced the resignation of Justice Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz, who was earlier tagged by ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co in corruption schemes in government.</p>

Malacañang on Friday announced the resignation of Justice Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz, who was earlier tagged by ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co in corruption schemes in government.

DOJ exec tagged by Zaldy Co in kickback scheme resigns: Palace

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DOJ exec tagged by Zaldy Co in kickback scheme resigns: Palace

Katrina Domingo,

Jervis Manahan,

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 05, 2025 10:56 AM PHT

|

Updated December 05, 2025 06:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Jojo Cadiz

Zaldy Co

politics

Palace

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