Marcos shrugs off Zaldy Co's raps; CBCP warns vs political exploitation

President Marcos has brushed off resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co’s allegations that he had ordered the insertion of P100-billion in infrastructure projects in the 2025 budget.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS and JEL SANTOS

“I don’t want to even dignify what he was saying,” Marcos told reporters in Negros Occidental on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Co, in a video uploaded to Facebook on Saturday, Nov. 15, doubled down on his allegation against Marcos, even showing images of suitcases supposedly containing money being delivered to the President’s residence.

Nation must be guided by truth, due process

Amid these still unverified and unsubstantiated allegations, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called for sobriety and a balanced public response amid circulating accusations and political noise, stressing that truth and due process, not speculation, must guide the nation.

In a statement, the CBCP said “public declarations on social media, however alarming, cannot take the place of formal testimony in the appropriate legal venues.” It urged parties involved in the allegations raised by Co to bring their claims before proper authorities and back them with verifiable evidence.

“Tf his accusations are indeed credible and substantial, we urge him to return to the country and file his charges before the proper authorities, under oath, and supported by verifiable evidence,” the statement signed by CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David said.

The bishops underscored that unverified claims, especially when amplified online, can mislead the public and inflame tensions, noting that for the good of the country, “such claims must be examined transparently, impartially, and in accordance with the rule of law.”

Call for caution against political exploitation

With heightened public discourse, the CBCP cautioned against efforts to weaponize the issue for political gain.

“We likewise caution against the political exploitation of these allegations, especially when released at sensitive moments that may inflame public sentiment or be used to influence political outcomes,” it said.