Former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co has challenged the Senate to investigate his claim of a supposed ₱100-billion insertion in the national budget allegedly ordered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. His call was made in his second video statement released on Saturday, November 15.
Co expressed doubt that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla would investigate the President.
He directly confronted the Ombudsman with a challenge: “Kaya ngayon ay hinahamon ko si Ombudsman Remulla, kung seryoso talaga siya sa mga sinasabi niya sa kaniyang press release na idadamay niya pati si Martin Romualdez, kung magbibigay ako ng ebidensya.”
He added that Remulla should prove his earlier pronouncements: “Patunayan niya ngayon ang pronouncement niya na iimbestigahan niya ang fraternity brod ang kaniyang kaibigan na si [dating] Speaker Martin Romualdez kung talagang tutupad siya sa tungkulin niya.”
Co also urged the Ombudsman to include President Marcos in the probe, citing the President’s own words.
“Imbestigahan din niya si President Bongbong Marcos, sabi nga ni BBM noong SONA, ‘Let’s do it right. At mahiya naman kayo,’ hindi po ba?”
With little confidence in the Ombudsman acting on his claims, Co appealed to the Senate: “Nananawagan din po ako sa Senado na imbestigahan ang ₱100 billion insertion ni Presidente, alam ko po na hindi gagawin ni Ombudsman Remulla ang hamon ko.”
He added, “Pero magaling ang Senado sa imbestigasyon at ako ay naniniwala na dahil sa kanila, lalabas ang katotohanan.”
As of now, the Senate has yet to issue any statement in response to Co’s challenge.