Former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co has publicly accused President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of ordering the insertion of ₱100 billion into the 2025 national budget.
In a video posted on his social media account, Co detailed the alleged instruction that he said originated from the President himself.
“Nagsimula ito no’ng tumawag si [DBM] Sec. Amenah Pangandaman sa akin no’ng nag-umpisa ang bicam process last year 2024. Ang sabi niya katatapos lang ng meeting nila ni Pangulo at may instructions na mag-insert o magpasok ng ₱100-billion worth of projects sa bicam,” Co said.
“Sinabi pa ni Sec. Amenah, you can confirm with Usec. Adrian Bersamin dahil magkasama sila ni Pangulong BBM noong araw na ‘yon. Tinawagan ko po agad si Usec. Adrian Bersamin at tinanong ko kung may instruction nga ba ang pangulo na magpasok ng ₱100 billion during their meeting. Ang sabi niya ay totoo nga po,” he continued.
Co added that after confirming the supposed directive, he informed former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who allegedly responded, “what a president’s wants, gets.” Co recounted that a meeting was later arranged with Secretary Pangandaman, Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, and Usec. Jojo Cadiz.
“During the meeting, binigay po ni Usec. Adrian Bersamin ang listahan ng ₱100-billion worth. Tinanong ko po si Usec. Adrian kung saan galing ang listahan, ang sagot niya, galing kay PBBM mismo at binigay niya ito mula sa brown leather bag,” he claimed.
Co then recalled a separate incident involving the same bag: “No’ng sinabi po ni Usec. Adrian Bersamin ‘yong brown leather bag, naalala ko no’ng nasa Singapore kami… hinabol ng PSG ang brown leather bag at sinabi ni PBBM, maiwan na lahat ‘wag lang ang brown leather bag.”
According to Co, this reinforced his belief that the instruction truly came from the President. He added that he later suggested inserting only ₱50 billion into programmed funds and placing the remaining ₱50 billion under unprogrammed appropriations.
“Pagkatapos ng isang araw, tinawagan ako ni Sec. Amenah at sinabing ang mensahe ng pangulo, ‘ipasok niyo ‘yan dahil ipinangako na sa akin ni Speaker Martin ‘yan at hindi na puwedeng baguhin.’ Kumbaga, ang utos ng hari ay hindi pwede mabali,” Co said.
He also questioned why the President denied knowledge of the budget process: “Kaya po nagtataka ako, kung bakit sinasabi ni Pangulo na hindi niya makilala ang budget. Samantalang lahat ng binawas at dinagdag sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno ay humihingi ng approval sa kaniya si Sec. Amenah Pangandaman.”
In addition, Co claimed that Romualdez instructed him to stay abroad and avoid returning to the Philippines.