La castellana: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday dismissed former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co’s allegations that he orchestrated PHP100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 national budget, stating that he would not give attention to such claims.

According to Philippines News Agency, Co released two videos on Facebook, alleging that President Marcos and former House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez had ordered significant insertions in the upcoming budget. In his second video, Co claimed that the entire PHP100 billion in budget insertions was allocated to Marcos and Romualdez. He further alleged that Marcos received PHP25 billion as a ‘standard operating procedure,’ with the funds reportedly delivered in suitcases to the President’s official residence at the Malaca±ang compound.

In response, Presidential Communications Office acting Secretary Dave Gomez dismissed Co’s claims as hearsay. Gomez challenged Co to return to the Philippines and address allegations related to his involvement in flood control anomalies. “We may begin to sound like a broken record. What he is saying is a bunch of hearsay,” Gomez stated. He urged Co to come back to the country, sign the allegations under oath, and face legal proceedings.