DILG CHIEF
– Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla believes that Zaldy Co must return $1 billion first if he wants to negotiate with the Philippine government.
Amid the flood control accusations against him, former House of Representatives Budget Appropriations Committee chairman Zaldy Co refused to return to the Philippines. He is accused as one of the alleged main role players in the supposed multi-billion flood control mess in the country.
However, amid the accusations against him,
Zaldy Co claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allegedly inserted P100 billion in the 2025 national budget
. He also claimed that the President and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez supposedly received a P56-billion kickback from the projects of the government.
Malacañang defended the President from the accusation of Co. According to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, the resigned
Ako Bicol Partylist
Representative allegedly wants the investigation to stop so he implicated the President in the budget insertion issue.
Photo Courtesy of Manila Standard
Recently,
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed that Zaldy Co allegedly sent “feelers” that he wants to dialogue with the Philippine government
. However, the said claim of the DILG Chief was immediately junked by the legal counsel of the former House member.
According to DILG Chief Jonvic Remulla, Zaldy Co seemingly did not expect what is happening to his life now and he allegedly wants to fix it. When asked if the Philippine government is willing to negotiate with the former House member, Remulla claimed that it is up to the Ombudsman but he also admitted his own take.
Photo Courtesy of Inquirer
That is up to the Ombudsman to answer. But if it were me, I would. Return $1 billion, saka tayo mag-usap. Then you’ll have an availability of a plea bargain
,” the DILG Chief said.
Amid the people’s continued call for accountability, the Department of Justice recently issued subpoenas against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Sen. Bong Revilla, and former Public Works Secretary Manny Bonoan over the flood control mess. Based on a
report
on Inquirer, they are ordered to appear for the preliminary investigation on February 2 and 12.
Bong Revilla has joined six inmates inside the Quezon City Jail cell