By Tracy Cabrera
AS political noise grows following the release of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co’s video statements and project list, one fact remains unchanged—the former congressman has not presented any evidence that directly links President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to the alleged ₱100 billion insertion in the 2025 national budget.
According to civic leader Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, the documents Co released on list projects and amounts are items commonly found in the national budget but contain no directive from Malacanang nor any communication showing the President ordered such insertions.
Amid the speculation, the chairman emeritus of the civic groups Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI) and the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement stressed that evidence, not theatrics, must guide public judgment.
A recent national security assessment observed that the timing of Co’s revelations aligns with supposed rallies organized by various blocs seeking to pressure the administration. Analysts warn that these events may be part of a broader effort to destabilize the government by spreading misleading narratives targeted at the President.
Goitia cited that while the assessment does not accuse any group of illegal activity, it underscores the need for fact-based scrutiny rather than reacting to orchestrated timing or political noise. Furthermore, Co’s choice to air his accusations from overseas instead of appearing before Senate inquiries or presenting sworn testimony has raised legitimate questions.
“If the intention is to tell the truth, the strongest place to do that is under oath, not overseas. Our institutions exist precisely so that claims can be examined fairly and transparently,” Goitia pointed out to stress that statements made abroad, without the opportunity for cross examination, naturally leave more questions than answers, especially when full legal processes are available in the Philippines.
He also pointed to a public record that contradicts Co’s claims: President Marcos Jr. vetoed ₱194 billion worth of items in the 2025 national budget.
“A leader who vetoes nearly ₱200 billion in budget items is clearly not someone trying to protect questionable insertions. The record shows a President removing items that raised concerns, not adding to them. This fact undermines the suggestion that the President would secretly endorse irregular allocations,” he noted.
The chairman emeritus likewise noted clear inconsistencies in Co’s narrative, particularly that President Marcos Jr. himself exposed the flood control irregularities and ordered deeper investigation: “If the President were behind the alleged anomalies, why would he be the one to unveil them? Who exposes their own supposed wrongdoing?”
Goitia also underscored the Marcos administration’s efforts to reinforce transparency and accountability: “What I see is a government strengthening checks and balances, not weakening them. You cannot fake institutional reforms. You can only implement them if you are genuinely committed to fixing the system.”
In ending, he emphasized that “truth does not hide behind edited videos or selective releases (but) must be presented openly, under oath, before the institutions of our Republic.”
“Filipinos deserve a conversation grounded in verified facts and proper process, not narratives released abroad or timed for public spectacle. Clarity, not noise, must guide the nation’s understanding.
The Marcos administration continues to focus on governance, accountability, and the real work that matters,” Chairman Goitia concluded.
