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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Zaldy Co didn't get kickbacks? De Lima says, 'unbelievable'

Zaldy Co didn't get kickbacks? De Lima says, 'unbelievable'

Published Nov 15, 2025 05:32 pm

At A Glance

  • Unbelievable. That's how Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima described former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co's claim that he didn't receive kickbacks.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML ) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML ) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook)
Unbelievable.
That's how Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima described former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co's claim that he didn't receive kickbacks.
"Hindi kapani-paniwala ang sinabi ni former Rep. Zaldy Co na wala raw siyang natanggap na kickback sa mga maanomalyang infra projects (It is unbelievable what former Rep. Zaldy Co said, that he supposedly did not receive any kickback from the anomalous infrastructure projects)," she said on Saturday, Nov. 15.
"At any rate, we reiterate our call for former Rep. Zaldy Co to return to the country, face the allegations against him, and present the whole truth before the appropriate forum," noted the House deputy minority leader.
"Kung talagang handa siyang ilabas ang lahat, kailangan niyang makiisa sa mga imbestigasyon, at sumagot sa mga tanong (If he is really ready to tell everything, he needs to cooperate with the investigations and answer the questions)," De Lima said.
"Dahil kahit makailang part pa umabot ang videos niya, hindi magagamit sa korte ang kanyang mga salaysay at ipinapakitang mga ebidensya kung hindi niya panunumpaan sa tamang forum (No matter how many parts his videos will have, his statements and the evidence he presents cannot be used in court if he is not under oath)," she pointed out.
On Friday, Nov. 14, Co--the former House Committee on Appropriations chairman--finally broke his silence on the allegations that he received kickbacks from the anomalous flood control projects.
In the video dubbed "Part 1", Co claimed that President Marcos ordered the insertion of P100 billion worth of infrastructure projects in the government's 2025 national budget.
Then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez supposedly told Co, "What the President wants, he gets."
With the release of Co's second tell-all video on Saturday--wherein he claimed that Marcos received kickbacks from the infrastructure projects worth P25 billion--De Lima said, the public needs actual evidence.
"Ang gusto ng taumbayan: Buong katotohanan. Matitibay na ebidensya para sa malakas na mga kaso; walang paghuhugas ng kamay, walang pinagtatakpan. Walang maitim na agenda (Here's what the people want: The whole truth. Solid evidence for strong cases, no washing of hands or cover-ups. No hidden agenda)," De Lima said.
"Higit sa lahat, maipakulong sa lalong madaling panahon ang lahat ng sangkot, at maibalik ang mga ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan (Most of all, those involved must be put to jail as soon as possible, and what was stolen from the public treasury must be returned)," she added.
In the second video exposé, Co said: "Wala pong perang napunta sa akin. Lahat po ng insertion napunta sa ating Pangulo at [former] Speaker Martin Romualdez (None of the money went to me. All of the insertions went to our President and former Speaker Martin Romualdez)."
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