Former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy Co on Friday directly implicated President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in what he claimed was a presidential directive to insert P100 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget.
In a five-minute (part 1) video sent to reporters, Co broke months of silence and alleged that he was “used as a scapegoat” in the administration’s anti-corruption campaign. He said the administration had “exhausted all resources” to keep him quiet and even warned that he would “get shot” if he talked.
Co said he left the country for a medical check-up on July 19 and had planned to return after the President’s State of the Nation Address on July 28, but claimed Romualdez told him, “Stay out of the country. You will be well taken care of as instructed by the President.”
According to Co, the budget insertion began in late 2024 when Budget Secretary Ameenah Pangandaman allegedly told him that the President ordered the inclusion of P100 billion in new projects. Co said he was advised to verify the directive with Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, who supposedly confirmed he was present in the same meeting with Marcos.
Co said he immediately relayed the instruction to Romualdez, who allegedly replied: “What the President wants, he gets.”
Co further claimed that a meeting was held in a Malacañang building with Pangandaman, Bersamin, Romualdez, and Department of Justice Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz, during which Bersamin handed over a list of projects worth P100 billion. Cadiz allegedly told him the list came “directly from the President.”
The projects, Co said, were placed partly in the DPWH budget and partly in unprogrammed funds under the Office of the President, upon instructions from officials present.
The former lawmaker said he finds it “hard to accept” Marcos’ recent claim that he does not micromanage the budget, saying the Department of Budget and Management traditionally seeks the President’s approval for major adjustments.
Co, who faces existing complaints before the Ombudsman over alleged kickbacks in flood-control projects, said his video is only the first of two parts, with more documents and names still to be released.
Malacañang, Romualdez’s camp, Pangandaman, Bersamin, and Cadiz have been asked for comment.