HOUSE Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos on Tuesday rejected allegations that he was involved in P50 billion worth of illegal budget insertions, calling the claims “fantastical” and “false.”
Marcos issued the statement after resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, who is facing corruption charges over alleged irregularities in flood control projects, accused him in a video of making insertions in the 2023 to 2025 national budgets.
“Anyone can sit in front of a camera abroad and spew lies,” Marcos said, adding that Co’s claims were part of an effort to sow political instability “in the hope of escaping his own legal troubles.”
He also alleged that intelligence information pointed to Co having made arrangements with groups seeking to benefit from a change in administration.
“Gusto niyang pabagsakin ang kasalukuyang administrasyon para ma-abswelto siya sa kanyang mga krimen,” he said.
Marcos said Co was removed as House appropriations committee chair due to “insatiable greed and corruption,” stressing that Congress makes decisions collectively.
He urged the public not to view Co as a whistleblower, saying, Siya po ay isang kriminal na umiiwas sa hustisya. Huwag po tayong magpabudol sa kanya.”
