Co challenges Remulla to investigate Marcos, Romualdez
In a video released the morning of Nov. 15, former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Elizaldy Co challenged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to investigate the alleged involvement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez in the 2025 budget insertions worth P100 billion.
Continuing the first part of the video he released on Facebook on Nov. 14, Co reiterated how Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman told him, "Everything is cleared with the President. Basta importante, pasok ang pondo na request ng Pangulo," allegedly referring to the budget insertions.
"The following day, sinabi ni Sec. Mina, approved na si Presidente BBM sa lahat ng binawasan na ahensiya. Masaya na ang pangulo dahil naipasok ang gusto niyang 100 billion insertion," said Co, reading his message.
"Wala pong perang napunta sa akin. Lahat po ng insertion napunta sa ating pangulo at speaker, Martin Romualdez," Co added.
Without saying what exactly he delivered, the former congressman described where he and his team brought the deliveries: "Ako lang at ang aking mga tao—si Paul Estrada, Mark Ticsay, at ang aking mga security—ang nagdeliver papunta sa bahay nila Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at Speaker Martin Romualdez sa North Forbes Park, South Forbes Park, hanggang sa Malacañang."
Co then verified his former staffer Orly Guteza's testimony during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Sept. 25, where Guteza said he was ordered to move "basura," the codename for suitcases filled with dirty money.
Within the video, Co shared audioless videos of suitcases grouped together in a garage and inside a house. Under each photo were records of the dates supposedly when these were taken: in 2024—Jan 8, May 1, May 14, June 3, June 14, June 27, Aug 16, Oct 2, and Nov 29. In 2025—Jan 11, March 11, and May 29.
The former congressman further said, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways, when he asked how much of the budget usually goes to the president, "Ang sinagot sa akin ay 25%. Ang ibig sabihin nito, 25% ng 100 billion ang SOP na kailangan ibigay kay BBM mismo," Co said. "In total, 25 billion ang napunta kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos."
"Kaya ngayon, hinahamon ko si Ombudsman Remulla, kung seryoso talaga siya sa mga sinasabi niya sa kanyang press release na idadamay niya pati si Martin Romualdez kung magbibigay ako ng ebidensiya," Co said.
"Patunayan niya ngayon ang pronouncement niya. Imbestigahan niya ang fraternity brod at ang kanyang kaibigan na si Speaker Martin Romualdez kung talagang tutupad siya sa tungkulin niya," he said.
"Imbestigahan din niya si President Bongbong Marcos. Sabi nga ni BBM nung SONA, 'Let's do it right at mahiya naman kayo,' hindi po ba?" Co added.
Co also called on the Senate to conduct its own investigation into what he alleged was the P100 billion insertion of the president.
"Alam ko po na hindi gagawin ni Ombudsman Remulla ang hamon ko. Pero magaling and Senado sa imbestigasyon. At ako ay naniniwala na dahil sa kanila, lalabas ang katotohanan," he said, ending the second video.
A note at the end said to watch out for the third video, with no specified date of release.
The Ombudsman's statement
In a public statement given to media outlets, the Office of the Ombudsman wrote, "Sa bawat seryosong imbestigasyon, may tamang daloy: ang mga testigo ay lumalapit, nagsusumite ng salaysay, at dumadaan sa masusing beripikasyon..."
"Pero pinili ni G. Zaldy Co na umiwas sa prosesong it. Sa halip na magsalaysay sa tanggapan, inilalabas niya ang kanyang kuwento sa mga video at social media. Dahil dito, kailangan naming huminto at suriin ang bawat sinasabi—dahil lahat ng testigo, walang espesyal, ay dumadaan sa parehong pagsusuri," the statement continued.
"Matagal nang bukas ang pinto ng Ombudsman sa kanya. Matagal na rin naming hinihiling na ipresenta niya ang kanyang ebidensya nang maayos,"
The Ombudsman reiterated its offer of protection for Co if the reason for his continued absence is fear for his life.
"G. Co — umuwi kayo. Isumite ang inyong salaysay. Ipaberipiko ang inyong mga pahayag. Sumailalim na parehong proseso na pinagdadaanan ng lahat," the Ombudsman said.
A reaction from Malacañang
Malacañang dismissed the fresh allegations of Co as mere "hearsay" and reiterated its challenge for the former congressman to come home and "face the music."
According to reports, Malacañang said, "We may begin to sound like a broken record. What he is saying is a bunch of hearsay. Sabi nito, sabi ni ano."
"Hindi nag-rewrite ng script sa second video kahit na kanal na 'yung una."
"We continue to issue the same challenge. Come home, sign these under oath and face the music."
In his first video, Co narrated that when he was getting ready to fly back to the Philippines in July following his medical treatment in the U.S., Romualdez called to ask him to stay out of the country, and added he would be well taken care of, on orders from the president.
As it turned out, Co said, "Ginawa nila akong poster boy ng kanilang sariling kasinungalingan."
Along with the video, Co released a list of hundreds of all the projects that Marcos allegedly ordered to be inserted in the 2025 budget.
Also involved in the carrying out of the alleged insertions were Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Co added that he asked if the 100 billion insertion could be cut down to just 50 billion since, according to him, the Department of Public Works and Highways budget should not be bigger than that of the Department of Education. To this, Co said, Pangandaman said to keep it at P100 billion as that was the amount allegedly promised by Romualdez to the president.
While Malacañang has since made comments on Co's exposé, Romualdez has yet to issue a statement.