Deputy Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Wednesday that Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s recent exposé confirms former Rep. Zaldy Co’s claims of allegedly giving money to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez were false.
According to Lacson, a sworn testimony from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo revealed who actually handled and benefitted from the alleged kickbacks, contradicting Co’s story. Bernardo reportedly managed PHP52 billion of the alleged PHP81 billion kickbacks, while former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan handled 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.
He emphasized that no evidence links the President or Romualdez to the insertion scheme.
“The only testimony on record points to a different set of individuals altogether,” he added.
Adiong urged the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to focus on the two implicated former undersecretaries and stressed that investigations must follow verifiable evidence, not fabricated narratives.
“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 concluded by calling for patience and focus on the facts:
“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.
