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Advocates Philippines
Zaldy Co Publishes Letter To Marcos; Lays Out Unverified Allegations On 2025 Budget
Photo credit: Zaldy Co
Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co has released what he says is the full letter he sent to President Marcos in February 2025, outlining a series of claims and allegations about how the 2025 national budget was crafted. None of these assertions have been independently verified, and they represent Co’s version of events amid the ongoing dispute between the House, the Senate, and Malacañang.
In his post, Co wrote: “Tulad po ng aking nabanggit sa aking video, narito po ang ipinadala kong sulat kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos nitong February 2025.”
According to Co, the House faithfully adhered to the National Expenditure Program and even increased funding for education, social services, and food security. He alleges that the most controversial adjustments came from what he describes as instructions from the Office of the President, including an alleged ₱100-billion insertion he claims Malacañang wanted split between programmed and unprogrammed funds.
Co also asserts that Budget Secretary Mina Pangandaman told him to “proceed” with the supposed presidential directive, despite potential backlash on education. He further claims previous bicameral negotiations never encountered these issues, and insists he and former Speaker Martin Romualdez did not alter the President’s allocations in past budgets.
In the Senate, Co accuses Senate President Chiz Escudero of pushing for a ₱200-billion share—allegedly with ₱145 billion funneled into DPWH projects. He claims Escudero threatened to delay the budget until March 2025 unless the House conceded. Co also alleges that Senate-initiated adjustments resulted in cuts to DepEd’s computerization program, PhilHealth subsidies, DA programs, DOH requests, and several flagship infrastructure projects.
Co denies allegations that the House inserted ₱120 billion into the NEP, calling it “an absolute lie,” and instead claims that certain Palace representatives influenced DPWH allocations. He also alleges disorder among DPWH contractors, saying “brokers and contractors were fighting each other” because of supposed interference.
He goes on to raise concerns about what he describes as possible rice “cartelization,” claiming that major importers may be monopolizing supply and that additional costs may be passed on to consumers—another allegation with no confirmed evidence.
Co concludes the letter by urging the President to review the budget’s final form and “investigate the role of the Senate and some of Your Excellency’s closest allies,” saying the realignments allegedly harmed education, health, and social services.
As of now, none of Co’s claims have been independently proven. Malacañang has not issued a response to his latest disclosure.
In his post, Co wrote: “Tulad po ng aking nabanggit sa aking video, narito po ang ipinadala kong sulat kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos nitong February 2025.”
According to Co, the House faithfully adhered to the National Expenditure Program and even increased funding for education, social services, and food security. He alleges that the most controversial adjustments came from what he describes as instructions from the Office of the President, including an alleged ₱100-billion insertion he claims Malacañang wanted split between programmed and unprogrammed funds.
Co also asserts that Budget Secretary Mina Pangandaman told him to “proceed” with the supposed presidential directive, despite potential backlash on education. He further claims previous bicameral negotiations never encountered these issues, and insists he and former Speaker Martin Romualdez did not alter the President’s allocations in past budgets.
In the Senate, Co accuses Senate President Chiz Escudero of pushing for a ₱200-billion share—allegedly with ₱145 billion funneled into DPWH projects. He claims Escudero threatened to delay the budget until March 2025 unless the House conceded. Co also alleges that Senate-initiated adjustments resulted in cuts to DepEd’s computerization program, PhilHealth subsidies, DA programs, DOH requests, and several flagship infrastructure projects.
Co denies allegations that the House inserted ₱120 billion into the NEP, calling it “an absolute lie,” and instead claims that certain Palace representatives influenced DPWH allocations. He also alleges disorder among DPWH contractors, saying “brokers and contractors were fighting each other” because of supposed interference.
He goes on to raise concerns about what he describes as possible rice “cartelization,” claiming that major importers may be monopolizing supply and that additional costs may be passed on to consumers—another allegation with no confirmed evidence.
Co concludes the letter by urging the President to review the budget’s final form and “investigate the role of the Senate and some of Your Excellency’s closest allies,” saying the realignments allegedly harmed education, health, and social services.
As of now, none of Co’s claims have been independently proven. Malacañang has not issued a response to his latest disclosure.
Nov 26, 2025
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