The Philippine government on Friday rejected former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co’s allegations that he funneled public funds on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., calling the claims baseless. Co had claimed that Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez instructed him to insert ₱100 billion into the national budget during a bicameral conference committee. However, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman stated that any presidential budget insertion would logically occur during the drafting of the National Expenditure Program, not at the bicameral level. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez dismissed the accusations as “without basis and fact,” urging Co to return to the Philippines and swear to his statements before proper authorities. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the strongest rebuke, accusing Co of creating false narratives to evade accountability in the flood control corruption scandal. “Because Zaldy Co’s world is shrinking… he is weaving a false story against other people,” Castro said, arguing that Co was resorting to name-dropping to portray himself as a victim.
