House Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio isn't convinced one bit by Zaldy Co's "I'm a victim" narrative as far as flood control and other infrastructure project anomalies are concerned.

Tinio, in a statement Sunday, Nov. 16, pointed out that Co's alleged companies were the primary beneficiaries of the alleged anomalous projects.

"He is not the victim. He was chair of the (House) Committee on Appropriations and the fact is now that his companies cornered the most or the largest amount in the flood control projects," Tinio said, referring to the 19th Congress or the first three years of the Marcos administration.

Tinio acknowledged that Co may fear being made a scapegoat amid growing public clamor for accountability. But he's no victim, the Makabayan solon said.

"Of course he's not a victim, however, I think what he means is that he's feeling the pressure from the President, given the strong public clamor to hold accountable those most involved in this, and perhaps Zaldy Co thinks he will be made a scapegoat in the sense that he will be the one charged, he will be pinned down as the mastermind, so it seems he has crossed the rubicon so to speak. Now he's saying it's not just me," he explained.

Co has claimed that President Marcos, through Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, ordered the insertion of ₱100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget, with the President allegedly receiving ₱25 billion or 25 percent from the insertion.

Co--who resigned as Ako Bicol Party-list congressman last Sept. 29--has claimed that the entire Marcos administration is out to silence him, and that his life is in danger.

"I don't think it's right to just dismiss what was said simply because it is a statement made not under oath," Tinio said of Co's claims of corruption at the very top of government.

"What's better is to really look into the allegations. There are lists of projects. Malacañang's defense... Sec. Pangandaman's position is that all of the President's projects are supposedly already in the NEP (National Expenditure Program).

"But actually, even with just a quick review, we haven't fully studied it yet, we've already found at least six projects from the list provided by Zaldy Co that are not in the NEP but are in the GAA (General Appropriations Act), so definitely insertions took place," Tinio explained.

The NEP, which emanates from the executive branch, is the precursor to the GAA or enacted budget measure. It is the House of Representatives and Senate that work together in legislation to turn the NEP into the GAA.

Tinio concluded: "We need to take seriously and deepen the examination of Zaldy Co's statements."