The accusation of former Ako-Bicol partylist Representative Zaldy Co against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is baseless and just "pure hearsay", a Palace official said Friday.

In a press briefing late Friday, Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez reminded the public that it is Marcos who exposed all the anomalies related to the flood control projects of the government during his last State of National Address (SONA) in July.

"These wild accusations are completely without basis in fact. All the charges levelled against the President are pure hearsay. Let us not forget, President Marcos Jr. himself exposed all these flood control anomalies and has taken numerous steps since to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice, the stolen wealth recovered and the system is fixed to avoid any of this from happening again," he said.

"Rep. Zaldy Co should come back to the country and sign everything he said under oath with the proper judicial authorities," he added.

In the same press conference, Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also insisted that the Office of the President or the executive has no role in the Bicameral Conference Committee.

"All appropriations ordered by the President is already in the National Expenditure Program, that is why it is called, “The President’s budget”. So, we reject any insinuations about it," she said.

"The bicam is purely under the power of the legislature. We respect and strictly follow the budget process, and all our actions are above board," she added.

The Palace held the press briefing hours after Co posted a video message in his social media account accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his cousin former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other cabinet members including Pangandaman of organizing supposed "insertions" in the 2025 national budget.

Co also posted in his social media account the list of P100 billion worth of projects allegedly ordered by the Marcos to insert in this year's national budget.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Co should return to the country to personally give his statements to prove his accusations and to face charges that will be filed against him. Robina Asido/DMS