ICI defers comment after Zaldy Co claimed Marcos ordered budget insertions
MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure is holding off on issuing any statement after former Rep. Zaldy Co released a video accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of ordering a P100-billion budget insertion during the 2025 bicameral conference.
ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka told reporters on Friday, November 14, that the commission is “carefully reviewing and studying” Co’s allegations in his newly shared video — and other allegations aired in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing today — before deciding on “any action or statement.”
In the five-minute video, the first of two parts, Co claimed that as then-House appropriations chairperson, he inserted “around P100 billion” in projects at the instruction of Marcos and Romualdez.
The embattled former lawmaker went on to claim the administration had “exhausted all resources” to silence him and “use him as a scapegoat” in its corruption crackdown.
Co, who has been abroad since July 19 for what he says are medical reasons, claimed he had planned to return to the Philippines after Marcos’ July 28 State of the Nation Address but was told by Romualdez: “Stay out of the country; you will be looked after as the president instructed.”
He said he believes “to be taken care of” meant being framed as a fall guy for the flood control corruption scandal, controversies of which has triggered massive demonstrations and calls for accountability.
Co is expected to face formal charges soon after the ICI recommended the Office of the Ombudsman assess his potential violations in connection to a P289-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, that was found to be substandard.
The project was implemented through a firm with ties to Co: the contractor, Sunwest Inc.
Co chaired House appropriations committee from July 2022 until January 2025, a position that gave him significant influence over at least three national budgets (2023, 2024 and 2025), including infrastructure allocations.
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