Congressional Probe Sought Over Massive Budget Manipulation Claims
Davao City First District Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte has formally requested a congressional investigation into explosive allegations of ₱100-billion budget insertions in the 2025 national budget. The lawmaker filed House Resolution No. 488 electronically on Tuesday morning, November 19, 2025, pushing for what he described as an "urgent and comprehensive inquiry" into the serious accusations.
The resolution specifically addresses claims made by former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, who has accused President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of orchestrating the massive budget manipulations. Duterte emphasized that the detailed nature and enormous scale of these allegations demand immediate congressional attention.
Serious Allegations of Corruption and Kickbacks
Zaldy Co recently unleashed a series of social media videos containing what Duterte characterized as "disturbing" accusations against the highest officials. According to Co's claims, President Marcos personally ordered the inclusion of ₱100 billion worth of projects during the 2025 Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations.
Co further alleged that both President Marcos and former Speaker Romualdez demanded a 25 percent kickback from these budget insertions. In a stunning revelation, Co claimed that his staff members physically delivered these kickbacks in suitcases directly to the homes of both officials.
The former congressman also released what he described as a detailed list of the inserted projects, complete with corresponding amounts and contractor information. Duterte's resolution notes that this document "requires deeper investigation" to verify the accuracy of Co's explosive claims.
Malacañang's Forceful Rejection
Malacañang Palace has completely dismissed Co's allegations as baseless. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that President Marcos "will not dignify" the claims that he accepted kickbacks from the alleged budget insertions. She characterized Co's statements as nothing more than "lies" and "propaganda."
In a video statement released on Saturday, Castro delivered a strong counterattack in Filipino, suggesting that Co's admission about making budget insertions himself makes him a "traitor to the Filipino people." She revealed that the President expressed anger over insertions that altered the 2025 National Expenditure Program.
Castro quoted President Marcos as saying he "could not recognize the NEP 2025 as the Executive's work once it reached Congress," indicating significant changes had been made to the original budget proposal.
Call for Key Witnesses and Evidence
Duterte's resolution calls for several key individuals to appear before Congress to address the allegations. The list includes Zaldy Co himself, officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), representatives from the Office of the President, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and other concerned agencies.
The resolution emphasizes that these individuals must either clarify or dispute Co's claims, present relevant evidence, and assist lawmakers in crafting necessary reforms to prevent similar situations in the future. Duterte stressed that the magnitude of the allegations cannot be ignored given their potential impact on government transparency and the separation of powers.
Co began releasing his allegations on November 14, starting with accusations that President Marcos ordered the budget insertions. In subsequent installments, he claimed the President received kickbacks and alleged that both Marcos and Romualdez benefited from flood-control projects in Bulacan. Co has promised to present additional evidence in the coming days.
The former congressman has been identified as a central figure in alleged anomalous flood-control projects and has faced previous accusations of receiving kickbacks from contractors and the DPWH. Co left the Philippines in July, citing threats to his life and family, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.
