Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Representative Leila de Lima on Saturday dismissed former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co’s claim that he never received kickbacks from questionable infrastructure projects.
“Hindi kapani-paniwala ang sinabi ni former Rep. Zaldy Co na wala raw siyang natanggap na kickback sa mga maanomalyang infra projects,” de Lima said on November 15.
As House deputy minority leader, she renewed her call for Co to return to the Philippines and confront the allegations against him.
“At any rate, we reiterate our call for former Rep. Zaldy Co to return to the country, face the allegations against him, and present the whole truth before the appropriate forum.”
De Lima emphasized that Co must cooperate with ongoing investigations.
“Kung talagang handa siyang ilabas ang lahat, kailangan niyang makiisa sa mga imbestigasyon, at sumagot sa mga tanong,” she added.
She also pointed out that Co’s videos cannot serve as admissible evidence.
“Dahil kahit makailang part pa umabot ang videos niya, hindi magagamit sa korte ang kanyang mga salaysay at ipinapakitang mga ebidensya kung hindi niya panunumpaan sa tamang forum,” she said.
Co, who previously chaired the House Committee on Appropriations, spoke publicly for the first time on Friday, November 14, regarding allegations that he benefited from kickbacks in anomalous flood control projects.
In his first video, “Part 1,” he claimed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. allegedly ordered the insertion of ₱100 billion worth of infrastructure projects into the 2025 national budget.
He also quoted former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as saying: “What the President wants, he gets.”
In Co’s second video released Saturday, he alleged that Marcos received ₱25 billion worth of kickbacks from government projects.
De Lima said the public deserves concrete evidence: “Ang gusto ng taumbayan: Buong katotohanan. Matitibay na ebidensya para sa malakas na mga kaso; walang paghuhugas ng kamay, walang pinagtatakpan. Walang maitim na agenda.”
She added, “Higit sa lahat, maipakulong sa lalong madaling panahon ang lahat ng sangkot, at maibalik ang mga ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan.”
In his second exposé, Co asserted, “Wala pong perang napunta sa akin. Lahat po ng insertion napunta sa ating Pangulo at [former] Speaker Martin Romualdez.”