Davao City Third District Representative Isidro Ungab has raised pointed questions about the timing of credibility concerns surrounding resigned Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, noting that Co served as chairman of the powerful Committee on Appropriations for three consecutive years without similar doubts being raised.
Questioning the Sudden Scrutiny
In a Facebook post dated November 15, 2025, Ungab highlighted the apparent contradiction in the political landscape. "For three years, you made Zaldy Co the chairman of the Appropriations Committee; for three years, you entrusted him with passing the national budget," Ungab stated emphatically.
The lawmaker directly challenged his colleagues and the public: "Why are you questioning his credibility now? Why didn't you think of that before?" This statement comes amid escalating political tensions following Co's dramatic allegations against the administration.
Co's Explosive Allegations
The context for Ungab's remarks stems from serious accusations made by Co, who is currently abroad. Through a video released earlier that day, the former congressman claimed that President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. received ₱25 billion in kickbacks from budget insertions in the 2025 national budget.
Co specifically alleged that 25 percent of the ₱100 billion in budget insertions represented "standard operating procedure" payments that needed to be delivered directly to the president. "What this means is that 25 percent of the ₱100 billion is the SOP that must be given to BBM himself. In total, ₱25 billion went to President Bongbong Marcos," Co asserted in his video statement.
Adding visual evidence to his claims, Co released photographs showing luggage lined up between luxury vehicles. He identified these as containers for deliveries destined for the homes of both President Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez at North Forbes Park, South Forbes Park, and even Malacañang Palace.
Ungab's History of Budget Concerns
Representative Ungab has been consistently vocal about irregularities in the 2025 budget process. In a series of social media posts, he reminded the public of several critical issues he had previously identified:
On January 18, 2025, Ungab revealed that the Bicameral Conference Committee report for the 2025 budget contained "blank sections" in key areas, including allocations for the Department of Agriculture and unprogrammed appropriations.
On January 3, 2025, he flagged concerns over "inconsistent computation" of the Education budget, noting that although the Department of Budget and Management originally listed Education as a top priority, the final bicameral-approved budget allocated more funds to the Department of Public Works and Highways than to education.
On August 13, 2025, Ungab demanded full transparency over the deletion of the ₱74 billion budget for PhilHealth in the 2025 General Appropriations Act. He argued this removal undermined health financing and violated the Sin Tax Law provisions.
The congressman also strongly criticized what he termed the "distortion" of the 2024-2025 budgets, highlighting that many foreign-assisted projects were defunded or shifted into "unprogrammed" funds, potentially damaging the country's development and international credibility.
Legal Challenge and Palace Response
In response to these numerous budget concerns, Ungab's camp has taken legal action by filing a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare the 2025 budget unconstitutional. The petition cites "fatal defects" in the bicameral report and the process through which it was enacted.
Meanwhile, Malacañang has vigorously denied Co's allegations. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, on November 16, 2025, dismissed the claims as "patched-together lies" and criticized Co's inability to present concrete evidence.
"That's the problem with Zaldy Co's patched-together lies. He can't present any evidence — he's just reading from a script," Castro stated. "The exposé his allies were expecting has turned into a comedy series instead."
The Palace has consistently characterized Co's allegations as "pure hearsay" since his first video exposé. Co himself has been implicated in controversial flood-control projects and is alleged to have received kickbacks from contractors and the DPWH.
Currently, Co remains outside the Philippines after leaving the country in July, with his exact location unknown. He has cited threats to his life and family as reasons for refusing to return.
