Palace: Zaldy Co’s allegations a ‘comedy series’

MANILA, Philippines — A “comedy series” – this was how Malacañang reacted to the latest allegations made by resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co against President Marcos on the supposed billions of pesos the latter received from the 2025 national budget.

“That’s the problem with Zaldy Co’s twisted lies. There’s no evidence to show, just a script,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a statement yesterday. “The exposé his allies were hoping for has turned into a comedy series.”

Castro maintained it was Marcos who initiated the investigation on the supposed multibillion-peso corruption in flood control projects.

“Many have been implicated, many are being exposed and those involved want to stop the investigation, so they are making up stories against the President,” she said.

“Should the leadership change, do we have the assurance that this investigation will continue especially since their allies are the ones accused?” the Palace press officer added.

In a radio interview earlier yesterday, Castro said the photos of suitcases shown by Co in the second part of his video do not prove his allegations against Marcos.

“If you show the suitcases, do they prove there is money? No. Just suitcases,” Castro said.

“What does that prove? Nothing. Defamation. Made-up story,” she noted.?

Castro also said there were inconsistencies between Co’s allegations and the dates the suitcases were supposedly delivered.

Full accountability

Regardless of Co’s motives, Marcos must be held accountable for the alleged budget insertions, the Gabriela Women’s Party urged.

“You don’t get this scale of wrongdoing unless it’s designed, approved and protected at the very top,” House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago said.

She went on to describe Marcos as the “ultimate architect of this massive plunder of the people’s money.”

For his part, Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos dared implicated personalities who claim to be “innocent” to step forward and “allow justice to vindicate them.”