Palace blasts Zaldy Co allegations vs. BBM as ‘pure hearsay’

Malacañang on Friday flatly rejected former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co’s claim that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally ordered the insertion of at least ₱100 billion worth of projects into the proposed ₱6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, calling the accusation baseless and irresponsible.

“These wild accusations are completely without basis in fact. All the charges leveled against the President are pure hearsay,” Presidential Communications Office acting Secretary Dave Gomez said in a Palace briefing.

Gomez emphasized that it was President Marcos who exposed the anomalous flood control projects and initiated efforts to hold corrupt officials and contractors accountable. He urged Co to return to the Philippines and testify “under oath before the proper judicial authorities.”

In a video message, Co alleged that Marcos, through Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, instructed him and former Speaker Martin Romualdez to accommodate questionable DPWH budget items. He further claimed the supposed insertion—initially pegged at ₱100 billion—was reduced to ₱50 billion to give way to education sector funding.

Pangandaman denied this, stressing that all presidential directives are fully reflected in the National Expenditure Program (NEP), and that the Executive has no involvement in budget negotiations once the NEP reaches Congress. “The BICAM is purely under the power of the legislature. We strictly follow the budget process, and all our actions are above board,” she said.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Co is fabricating stories to escape accountability in the flood control controversy. “Dahil lumiliit na ang mundo ni Zaldy Co, kailangan niyang umiwas at mag-name drop kahit walang katibayan at laway lang ang puhunan,” she said, warning the public against more lies Co may release.

Co, who faces allegations of receiving kickbacks from anomalous projects, also claimed the administration was trying to silence him. Castro challenged him to prove this and urged him to face the charges. She said the President’s ongoing investigation is “steadily bearing fruit” and bringing the truth closer.