Co accuses Romualdez of threatening him over flood control scam

National

FORMER Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co claimed on Sunday, Nov. 16, that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez threatened to kill him if he spoke publicly about his alleged involvement in the controversial flood control scam.

Co made the allegation in the third part of a video statement released online, saying the threat was made as early as March 2025 during a private meeting.

“As early as March 2025, the speaker hinted to me in our meeting that he will shoot me if I talk,” Co said in Filipino. He added that Romualdez also warned that he could face danger if he returned to the Philippines, implying that authorities or hired individuals could carry out the threat.

“After telling me in a phone call, ‘don’t come home, he will take care of you,’ Speaker Martin called again and said it would be dangerous for me to go home,” Co said. “They may hire someone to do a rubout on me or hire the police to kill me while in jail,” he added.

In an Inquirer report, Co further alleged that the kickbacks from anomalous infrastructure projects, including flood control contracts, amounted to P56 billion, far higher than the previously reported P21 billion cited by Department of Public Works and Highways engineers.

“The real figure is P56 billion, and all that money went to President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] and Martin Romualdez,” Co said is statement, without providing immediate documentation to support the claim.

He said he plans to release additional details in the coming days but did not explain why the statement was being released in parts.

In his video, Co apologized to the public and his family, asserting that he only followed orders in executing the projects.

“I repeat: I did not keep any of the money. It just passed through me to be delivered to Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Marcos,” he said in Filipino.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)