The Malacañang Palace has strongly refuted allegations made by former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman pressured to include P100 billion worth of projects in the national budget, dismissing the claims as completely unfounded.
Palace Dismisses Allegations as "Pure Hearsay"
During a press conference held on November 14, 2025, Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez categorically denied Co's accusations, describing them as "pure hearsay" without any factual basis. Gomez emphasized that President Marcos himself had previously exposed flood control anomalies and had implemented numerous measures to ensure accountability and systemic reform within the government.
"Rep. Zaldy Co should come back to the country and sign everything he said under oath with proper judicial authorities," Gomez stated, challenging the former lawmaker to substantiate his claims through proper legal channels.
Co's Controversial Video Allegations
The controversy emerged after Co posted a video on his social media page where he made several serious allegations. The embattled former representative claimed that President Marcos personally ordered the insertion of P100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget.
According to Co's account, the instructions were allegedly relayed by Budget Secretary Pangandaman and confirmed by Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, who supposedly handed him the project list from a brown leather bag. Co further asserted that he was pressured to comply with the President's directives and that he sought clearance from then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez before being prevented from returning to the Philippines.
Budget Secretary's Firm Rebuttal
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman directly countered these insinuations regarding the President's involvement in the budget process. "All appropriations ordered by the President is already in the National Expenditure Program (NEP). That is why it is called the President's budget. So we reject any insinuations about it," Pangandaman clarified.
She emphasized the strict adherence to proper budget procedures, noting that "the bicam is purely under the power of the legislature" and that her office respects and follows the established budget process with all actions being transparent and above board.
Pangandaman further explained that after the NEP submission to Congress, the President and his office no longer participate in the bicameral conference committee proceedings, which fall exclusively under legislative jurisdiction.
Administration Officials Question Co's Motives
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro questioned the logic behind Co's accusations, pointing out that if the President indeed possessed the unchecked power as suggested, it would be illogical for him to utilize insertion mechanisms.
Castro suggested that Co might be attempting to divert attention from his own legal troubles. "To save himself from allegations of stealing from the National Treasury and portray himself as the victim, he would plant false stories against others," she remarked in Filipino.
She challenged Co to "return to the Philippines, swear to the truth of his statements, and face the lawsuits or cases filed against him."
When questioned about whether the President could guarantee Co's safe return to the country, Castro responded that Co must first provide evidence of any legitimate threats to his safety. "When he left, was there already a threat to his life? Where are the records showing that someone was threatening him? He must first prove that before opening his mouth," she stated.
Castro also dismissed suggestions that the administration was in "panic mode" or that the President had called emergency security meetings amid public rallies and corruption exposures. The Palace is seeking swift resolution from anti-graft bodies, expressing hope that the Ombudsman would expedite related cases.
