Lacson presses Zaldy Co to testify under oath on alleged P100-B budget insertions

Published 15 Nov 2025 at 1:51 PM

by Stacy dela Fuente

3 min read

Sen. Panfilo Lacson poses questions to Co’s claims unless made “under oath”
Co alleged Marcos ordered P100 billion in projects added during the bicam process
Lacson questioned the logic behind the claim, noting the President later vetoed the supposed insertion
Senate hearings on flood control anomalies continue, with Co among those linked to the issue

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Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is seeking firm answers from former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co after the latter publicly accused President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., former Speaker Martin Romualdez, and several Cabinet members of orchestrating an alleged P100-billion insertion in the national budget.

Lacson pointed out that the claim, for now, carries no weight since it was not made under oath.

“As of now, walang probative value kasi hindi naman under oath,” Lacson said in an ambush interview when asked about Co’s statements, which were posted on Facebook through a video last Friday.

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The comments emerged as the Senate blue ribbon committee—currently led by Lacson—continued its inquiry into supposed irregularities in flood control projects, where Co is among those being investigated.

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In his video, Co claimed Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman called him last year, allegedly relaying instructions from Marcos to include P100 billion worth of projects in the bicameral conference committee report.

Co later said the figure was reduced to P50 billion in the 2025 budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). He argued that pushing the full P100 billion would have ballooned DPWH’s budget beyond that of the Department of Education, which he said would violate the 1987 Constitution.

Lacson stressed that bicameral reports must be approved by both the House and the Senate, and that Co’s statements remain mere “stories” unless delivered under oath.

He also questioned the premise of the allegation, noting that the budgeting process begins with the National Expenditure Program (NEP), where the President has full control.

“If ipina-insert ni Marcos ang naturang halaga, bakit ibinasura ito ng pangulo sa pamamagitan ng pag-veto?” Lacson asked, urging Co to testify formally before the Senate.

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Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is a veteran Filipino lawmaker and former national police chief known for his tough stance on corruption, disciplined leadership style, and decades-long career in public service. He first rose to prominence as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 1999 to 2001, where he pushed for internal reforms and anti-corruption measures. As a senator, he became widely recognized for his detailed scrutiny of the national budget, consistently calling out questionable allocations and alleged “pork barrel” insertions. Lacson has authored and sponsored key legislation throughout his multiple terms in the Senate, and he has built a reputation as one of the chamber’s most meticulous investigators. He also chaired several high-profile inquiries, including those involving corruption and national security issues.

In a previous report by KAMI, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will investigate around 40 luxury cars linked to Sarah Discaya’s family. The move came after a viral interview where Discaya showed their collection of high-end cars. BOC will check the consignee of the vehicles to see if there were violations in their importation Discaya has also been connected to contractors of flood control projects now under Senate investigation.