Lacson exposé shows Co is lying, says solon

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (Senate of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Deputy Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Wednesday that Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s exposé has made it clear that former Rep. Zaldy Co’s claims of allegedly delivering money to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez were false.

According to Lacson’s disclosures, a sworn testimony from former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo revealed who actually handled and benefitted from the alleged kickbacks, directly contradicting Co’s “story.”

Citing information provided by Bernardo, Lacson revealed during Senate budget deliberations that Bernardo personally handled PHP52 billion in kickbacks from the alleged PH81 billion of the PHP100-billion budget insertions that went to the DPWH, while former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan managed PHP19 billion.

“Not the President, not former Speaker Romualdez — both were falsely dragged into allegations that the evidence does not support. The names do not match the accusations made by Co,” Adiong said in a news release.

The chair of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms added that no evidence has ever surfaced linking the President or former Speaker Romualdez to the alleged insertion scheme.

“The only testimony on record points to a different set of individuals altogether,” he said.

With these facts on record, he said the direction of the investigation should now be clear.

“The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) should focus its probe on two former undersecretaries, who were specifically implicated,” he said. “It is only right that the inquiry follows the evidence — not fabricated narratives,” Adiong said.

The lawmaker from Mindanao reiterated that public institutions cannot afford investigations built on political narratives that collapse under the weight of real evidence.

“This entire episode proves why we must rely on sworn testimony and verifiable documents. Unproven accusations only mislead the public and unjustly damage reputations,” he said.

He also called on all parties to remain focused and allow investigators to do their work.

“Our people deserve a process grounded in truth, not noise. Senator Lacson’s exposé puts the facts on the table. Let us act on those facts — nothing more, nothing less,” Adiong said.