Resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has dared Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to investigate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over the former lawmaker’s allegations regarding the cousins’ involvement in the P100 billion insertions in the 2025 national budget.
Co issued the challenge in the second part of his video statement posted on Saturday.
The former lawmaker broke his months-long silence after being implicated in alleged corruption in flood control projects through a video statement initially posted on Friday.
In the first part of the video, Co alleged that Marcos and Romualdez were the alleged masterminds behind the P100 billion in the 2025 national budget. Co then published a list of proposed projects that Marcos, through Romualdez, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Adrian Bersamin, requested to be inserted into the bicameral conference committee level.
Co then claimed that after the approval of the budget, he asked the Department of Public Works and Highways how much of the P100 billion insertion should be given to the Office of the President.
‘What they told me is 25 percent. It means that 25 percent of the P100 billion is the SOP that should be given to BBM. In total, P25 billion went to President Bongbong Marcos,’ Co said in the second part of the video statement.
With this, Co said that Remulla must stick to his word that he would investigate Romualdez if the former provided evidence.
‘He should now prove his statement that he will investigate his fraternity brother and his friend, Speaker Martin Romualdez, if he truly intends to fulfill his duty,’ Co dared.
‘He must also investigate President Bongbong Marcos. Like what BBM said last Sona, ‘let’s do it right and have some shame,’ right?’ Co added.
Remulla recently said that among the high-ranking officials being subjected to ongoing investigations for directly facilitating or turning a blind eye to the corruption in government infrastructure works are Romualdez, Co, and former Senate President Francis Escudero.
Remulla noted that while examining cases involving Co, there was a pattern of the latter’s coordination with some senators in crafting the final version of the national budget. Meanwhile, Remulla said that Romualdez was ‘responsible’ for appointing Co as the chairperson of the House committee on appropriations in the 19th Congress from 2022 to 2025.
Co also called on the Senate to investigate the alleged P100-billion budget insertion directed by Marcos.
‘I know that Ombudsman Remulla will not heed my challenge, but the Senate is doing a great job in investigating, and I believe that because of them, the truth will come out,’ Co added.