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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson disputes Zaldy Co's kickback claim; says Bersamin, Olaivar misrepresented Marcos

Lacson disputes Zaldy Co's kickback claim; says Bersamin, Olaivar misrepresented Marcos

Published Nov 18, 2025 03:50 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Tuesday, Nov. 18, rejected former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co's allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered ₱100 billion in budget insertions and received a supposed ₱25-billion "commission" from the amount.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday, Nov. 18, rejected former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co’s allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered ₱100 billion in budget insertions and received a supposed ₱25-billion “commission” from the amount.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Senate PRIB photo)
During the Senate’s marathon plenary deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget, Lacson said that the ₱100-billion list of projects was indeed inserted during the bicameral conference committee (Bicam), but he denied Co’s claim that the President had directed the move.
“Totoo yung listahan ng ₱100 billion pesos. Talagang nasingit sa bicam (The list amounting to ₱100 billion is real. It was indeed inserted during the bicam),” Lacson said.
"But yung sinasabi ni Zaldy Co on social media as posted na nag-deliver siya ng P25 billion representing the 25% commission di umano para kay Presidente, that I will attest na hindi totoo (But what Zaldy Co is saying on social media — that he supposedly delivered ₱25 billion representing a 25% commission for the President — I can attest is not true)...untrue or completely false," he added.
Lacson said he was informed on Sunday by the camp of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo that certain individuals in Malacañang, without authorization from the President, had invoked the Chief Executive’s name in connection with the budget insertions.
“May mga tao sa Malacañang, not the President, not authorized by the President, who misrepresented him,” Lacson said.
He named resigned Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Carlos Bersamin Usec. Adrian Bersamin as well as resigned Department of Education (DepEd) Usec. Trygve Olaivar, as those who allegedly name-dropped the President to make Co believe the ₱100-billion insertions were ordered from the Palace.
Lacson said that Bernardo admitted to delivering kickbacks, but not to the President, but to Olaivar.
Co earlier accused President Marcos of pressuring the House of Representatives into accommodating ₱100 billion in project insertions in the proposed ₱6.326-trillion national budget for 2025. He made the claim in a series of videos posted on social media.

Related Tags

ping lacson President Marcos Zaldy Co 2025 budget bicameral conference committee
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