by Renato Reyes Jr. | President, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
Today’s latest Zaldy Co video states the following:
- Co informed Marcos through a letter in March 2025 that P100 billion in insertions were made upon the instructions of DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. Marcos allegedly told Co not to interfere and took no action vs Pangandaman and Usec Bersamin. This according to Co, confirmed his suspicion that it was indeed Marcos who ordered the insertions.
- Some P97 billion in infra projects including flood control were ordered “inserted” by Marcos for the 2026 budget but these were included in the NEP as confirmed by then DPWH Secretary Bonoan. (So technically hindi na ito insertions? Sponsored then?) This was confirmed in a meeting with Bonoan and former Speaker Romualdez in May 2025 in Forbes Park. When this was discovered by lawmakers during the. budget deliberations, the DPWH budget was returned to the DBM.
- Co said that Majority Leader Sandro Marcos also made insertions totalling almost P52 billion from 2023 to 2025. In 2024, Sandro was reportedly upset that P8 billion in insertions for the 2025 budget were not made because contractors already made advance payments of the SOP to Sandro and that he allegedy had to return the money since the projects were not inserted. In a list he disclosed, Co said Sandro’s insertions were both for the regular budget and the notorious unprogrammed appropriations. The practice of “advances” from contractors when a project is included in the budget seems to adhere to what former DPWH Usec Robert Bernardo said in his previous testimony. Every stage of the budget, from the NEP, GAB, Bicam and GAA is tainted with corruption.
- The continuing revelations require the investigation of all those named in the grand conspiracy to defraud the Filipino people and plunder public funds. The list of so-called insertions should be scrutinized. In fact, all insertions made from 2023 to 2025 should be disclosed and their proponents identified. What is being revealed now is how systemic the corruption is and how high up the decision-making goes. It is untenable now to keep claiming the president is blameless. An honest and thorogh investigation must take place.
- The demand “Lahat ng sangkot dapat managot!” remains as valid as ever. See you on November 30 and hold these people accountable.
Attached are supposed Sandro insertions from 2023 to 2025 as disclosed by Co. These include sponsored projects in the NEP, insertions in the House version of the budget, the bicameral conference and in the unprogrammed appropriations.
