To say that House minority members are intringued by Zaldy Co's P100-billion budget insertion allegations against President Marcos is a huge understatement.

For Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, the former Ako Bicol Party-list congressman needs to return to the Philippines more than ever following his shocking exposé against the administration.

"We urge former Rep. Zaldy Co to return to the country and fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation into the anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects," De Lima said in a statement Friday, Nov. 14.

"He should take an oath and tell the whole truth before the proper forum," reckoned the deputy minority leader and former senator.

Earlier Friday, Co released a video statement wherein he claimed that President Marcos--through officials of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)--orderrd him to insert P100 billion worth of infrastructure projects in the 2025 national budget.

Co, the Committee on Appropriations chairman during the previous 19th Congress, was allegedly ordered to do so during the Bicameral Conference Committee hearing on the budget measure.

Other members of the House minority, particularly the Makabayan solons, called Co's video "a damning exposé" that directly implicates President Marcos and other high-ranking officials in the systematic corruption of our national budget through massive illegal insertions.

"The testimony reveals what we have long suspected: that the bloating of DPWH's budget beyond even that of DepEd is not accidental but deliberate," the Makabayan bloc composed of ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said in a joint statement.

"This testimony demolishes any pretense that Marcos Jr. is innocent or unaware of the corruption plaguing his administration. He is not merely complicit—he is the chief architect," they said.

"The President personally approves the release of unprogrammed funds and directly orders billions in budget insertions. The buck stops with him," underscored the militant lawmakers.

"While we acknowledge that Zaldy Co's testimony may be motivated by self-preservation after being made a scapegoat and charged while others enjoyed protection, this does not diminish the gravity of his revelations," they added.

They said the list of projects Co included in his tell all video "should be investigated including the private contractors involved".

On top of this, the Makabayan also expressed great interest with Co's upcoming second tell all video, which he teased Friday.

"In the coming days, we call on the Filipino people to mobilize, protest, and demand accountability from those in the highest positions of government, especially President Marcos Jr.," they further said.

For his part, another minority solon in Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando reacted to Co's video by saying, "I told you so."

"Ito ‘yung matagal na nating sinabi na imposibleng walang alam o walang kinalaman ang pangulo taliwas sa sinasabi ng Palasyo (This is what we have long said, that it is impossible for the President to have no knowledge or no involvement, contrary to what the Palace claims),” he said in a separate statement.

He says the corruption described by Co is consistent with what worker groups, budget watchdogs, and independent advocates have repeatedly warned about. “From the very beginning, we have said the same thing: the corruption in flood control is massive, systemic, and reaches the highest levels of government."

“The President signs the national budget. He reviews it. Nothing gets inserted or approved without his office knowing, and often, without his explicit say-so,” San Fernando said.

San Fernando demanded that all officials named in Co’s testimony issue complete public explanations: “We call on President Marcos Jr., former Speaker [Martin] Romualdez, [DBM] Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Usec. Adrian Bersamin to face the public. The Filipino people deserve the truth, and they deserve it now.”