If the claims of resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co over the massive flood control anomalies are true, he should return home and testify, a Palace official said, adding that the government would offer him protection.

"Kung 'yan naman po ay may katotohanan at mayroon siyang mga ebidensya, maliban sa mga maletang walang ipinapakita kundi maleta na may tag price pa. Umuwi siya sa Pilipinas, panumpaan niya po 'yan (If that is indeed true and he has evidence, aside from those suitcases that show nothing but suitcases with price tags still on them, he should return to the Philippines and swear to it under oath)," Palace Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in an interview over DZRH on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

"Bibigyan po siya ng proteksyon. Kailangan lumitaw ang tunay na istorya dito, para mapanagot ang dapat na mapanagot (He will be given protection. The real story needs to come out here so that those who must be held accountable can be held accountable)," Castro added.

In a Palace briefing on Tuesday, the Palace official explained that any Filipino, who intends to return home and testify under oath and faces danger, is given protection.

"Kahit naman po sinong Pilipino ang uuwi dito at sinasabing nanganganib ang kanilang buhay, bibigyan po ng proteksyon ng gobyerno, pati po ang Office of the Ombudsman sa dating pagkakadinig ay sinabing poproteksyunan po siya (Any Filipino who comes home and says their life is in danger will be given government protection, and even the Office of the Ombudsman, in previous hearings, said that he would be protected)," Castro said.

Although Castro alleged Co of being among those who are "fabricating stories against the President," she advised the resigned lawmaker to return to the country and substantiate his claims.

"Sa ngayon po lumalabas na ang mga grupo nila, malamang kasama na siya sa grupo, ay napakadesperado na po na gumawa ng tahi tahing kwento laban sa Pangulo (Right now, it appears that their groups, most likely including him, are already so desperate that they are fabricating stories against the President)," Castro said.

"So umuwi po siya dito, panumpaan niya. Dahil hindi maaaring bigyan ng anumang credence, saysay, halaga ang isang taong nasa video lamang, walang pinanumpaan, maaaring mag-name drop (So he should come home and swear to his statements. Because we cannot give any credence, meaning, weight or value, to someone who is only seen in a video, who has not sworn to anything, and who can easily name-drop)," she added.

"So, kailangan umuwi po siya dito para mas makita po natin ang katotohanan dahil 'pag siya ay nandidito, maaari po siyang matanong para ma-substantiate ang lahat ng allegation na sinabi niya (So he needs to come home so we can see the truth more clearly, because if he is here, he can be questioned to substantiate all the allegations he has made)," the Palace official further stressed.

Co has been releasing video exposés linking President Marcos and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez to alleged budget insertions and massive kickbacks.