By Adolfo Quizon Paglinawan

 

Part 9: Is it worth saving a weak, incompetent and corrupt president?

Zaldy Co, the beleaguered former chairman of the House appropriation committee has released a second video where he claimed that he did not receive a cent from the corrupt insertions into the 2025 national budget.

“Wala pong perang napunta sa akin.”

But he categorically asserted that P25 billion in kickbacks were delivered to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Co said that when he asked the Department of Public Works and Highways how much “SOP” (verbatim “standard operating procedure”; colloquially “bribe”) was to be allotted to the “OP” (Office of the President) from the P100-billion budget insertion, he was told – “25%.”

“Ang ibig sabihin nito, 25% ng P100 billion ang SOP na kailangang ibigay kay BBM mismo.” (That meant that 25% of P100 billion is the SOP that has to be given to BBM himself.)  

He summed it all up, “P25 billion ang napunta kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos,” (In total, P25 billion went to President Bongbong Marcos.)

To back up his claim, Co showed photos of luggage lined up between luxury vehicles in what looked like his garage, for delivery to the President and former House speaker Martin Romualdez from January 8, 2024 to March 11, 2025.

I was not surprised at the response of Bongbong Marcos to these gruesome allegations: “I don’t want to even dignify what he was saying.” For the first time, he is politically correct. What can he say anyway when he has been caught with his pants down.

The fact is he did not deny it.

Former Speaker Martin Romualdez took a different tack. He said no public official, contractor or witness has pointed to any wrongdoing on his part and reiterated that his conscience “remains clear”.

Marcos and Romualdez has brought us to biblical times: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared…”

The primary reference is in 1 Timothy 4, 1-2, where the Apostle Paul uses being “seared as with a hot iron” to describe hypocritical liars who spread false teachings. The metaphor refers to a state where a person’s inner sense of right and wrong is dulled or hardened, making them insensitive to guilt or conviction. This occurs through consistent sin and the disregard of one’s conscience, leading to a desensitization to moral pangs.

The signs begin with loss of sensitivity: The ability to feel guilt, shame, or conviction when doing wrong is diminished. The conscience is compared to skin that has been cauterized, becoming numb to its moral purpose.

It metastasizes into a progressive hardening of the heart that can lead to a person becoming resistant to spiritual truth. Individuals then begin to rationalize or justify their wrong actions, finding it difficult to recognize their moral failings. 

Now I am beginning to understand that nothing happens by accident, and that there is truly a Supreme Being who controls our destiny as a people. God has allowed us to suffer more than three years of misgovernance under this malevolent duo, so that we the people, can finish off what former President Rodrigo Duterte failed to do – Declare a War on Corruption!

It appears that the Almighty already wants to set the Filipino people free from oppression by its political leaders.

The Leyte First District representative also said Co’s statements “were not made under oath and do not hold water in the court of law”.

All this legalese is bullshit. I do not think Co intended to try his former boss in a court of law; he wanted to kill whatever is left of Romualdez’ reputation in the court of public opinion.

He doesn’t want to waste time discussing the validity of notarial seals. no notarial seal is required. Co is not after a mere technical knockout but a demolition, that is sending his name down in history being cursed by the spirit of Antonio Luna.

Romualdez. on the other hand, continues to trust the Independent Commission on Infrastructure, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Ombudsman to evaluate all statements fairly and strictly on the basis of evidence.

But these agencies have already been compromised because the personalities whom run them have his cousin, the president, as their paymaster.

Bongbong’s loose ends

I also lived in Bonifacio Global City for six months, and I often saw Bongbong Marcos go to Sunday mass and receive Holy Communion at Santuario de San Antonio. That was more than 10 years ago.

He linked up with our study groups when he was protesting against his defeat in the vice-presidential race, confluencing in at least two face-to-face forums, and even sending us “bayong” (woven basket)-full of bagnet and goodies from Ilocos Norte, for three consecutive Christmases.

Once, lawyer Inky Reyes and I also passed by his senate office and had some intelligent discussions with him on the South China Sea. I also interviewed him at least twice when I was broadcasting with Radyo Pilipinas.

But what happened when he assumed the presidency?

I cannot imagine a brain rot who after being thrown out of Malacanang by the Americans when he was about 29 years old, be taken hostage by and sleep with the Americans at age 65 for three years of his term.

I cannot imagine a scion succumbing to the siren song of the oligarchs and the ruling elite that have also betrayed his father.

I cannot imagine a former Oxonian appointing sycophants, dilletantes and demagogues to his cabinet that resembles more a mafiosi syndicate rather than a management team that can deliver results that are favorable to the people.

I cannot imagine an ingrate kidnapping the man who enabled the burial of his father at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani and delivering him to foreign powers over charges and issues trumped-up by partisans.

I cannot imagine a chauvinist pig impeaching the woman who enabled his electoral victory to the presidency.

I cannot imagine a fool not learning from his own father’s fate that earthly power is temporal and lusting for perpetuation only leads to an unhappy death.

Co challenged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla to investigate Marcos and Romualdez but expressed no expectations.

The Office of the Ombudsman, however, reminded Co that the “right process” in any “serious investigation” is for the witness to go to them, submit an affidavit, and go through careful verification.

The idiot who wrote that statement forgot that the Ombudsman has motu propio (on its own initiative) powers to investigate and prosecute any act or omission of a public officer or employee that appears to be illegal, unjust, improper, or inefficient. This means this Constitutional office does not need a formal complaint from a private individual to start an investigation and can act proactively based on its own findings, the media, or other information. 

Co also urged the Senate, instead, to look into his allegations against Marcos and Romualdez.

But Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who is the controversial head of the Blue Ribbon Committee, said Co must have his allegations “properly authenticated” or “made under oath or affirmed in the Philippine consulate of the country where he is now staying.”

So Lacson became the second idiot.

According to Article I on Jurisdiction Section 1 “The Committee, in aid of legislation, shall have jurisdiction over ail legislative matters relating to, including investigation of, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office by officers and employees of the government, its branches, agencies, subdivisions and instrumentalities; implementation of the provision of the Constitution on nepotism; and investigation of any matter of public interest on its own initiative or brought to its attention by any member of the Senate.”

The Senate too have motu propio powers over this subject matter, empowered through its Blue Ribbon Committee.

Obviously, Remulla and Lacson are Marcos functionaries.

In deed was I not right in changing the name of ICI to “Intentional Cover-up of the Insertions”.

Co, however, is sending yet a third video!

State of the Nation

I mean seriously, what Marcos has done to keep his sins to the people is increase the decibels on inanities to insulate the burning kitchen of Malacanang.

For instance, Marcos wants us to prepare for a war in Taiwan and to be able to hold out fort for 30 days for Douglas MacArthur’s second coming. This is if Romeo Brawner, whom he has appointed AFP chief of staff who is retiring in July 2026, is to be believed.

As our security directions seems to be going south, Taiwan’s peaceful road to unification with China appears to be bound north, as the regime of President Ching Lai Te (DPP) seems to be floundering on its first 18 months.

The next presidential elections is scheduled for January 2028, and from all indications the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), which favor reunification, seems to be in the upper hand.

In her inaugural speech, KMT’s new leader Cheng Li-wun showed that she understands the new multipolar world order, as she advocated for reason and peace, and stronger ties with Beijing.

Mincing no words, she stated the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should not use animosity toward China as a political tool. Her victory is seen as a signal to resist separatism and safeguard stability across the Strait.

Turmoil at home

On the domestic front, Pulse-Asia in its month ender September survey rated only 4% of Filipinos are convinced that our territory is under threat from any foreign power.

More than half of the population however, rated that inflation (56%) and corruption (51%) are our most urgent national concern.

Our tourism was short by 25% of its 2004 targets.

Our trade with one of our top trading trading partners, the United States, has been slapped with 19% tariffs.

As if this was not enough, our currency has breached the 59-peso exchange against the US dollar, making our exports more expensive.

We have experienced a 45% drop in foreign direct investments, with our stock market performing worst in the world after losing P5 trillion since December 2024.

Our forecast for this year’s growth in gross domestic product (GDP) is a dismal 3.2%.

Factor this against out 2026 proposed national budget at P6.7 trillion, with Ralph Recto forecasting only P4.9 trillion in revenues, therefore anticipating a deficit of P1.8 trillion, almost the same level that Marcos wasted in flood control projects and other non-infra anomalous insertions for the current year.

In short, we are on the brink of becoming a failed sate.

Conclusion

These are truly prophetic times. When I shared in a media interview that the passing of Mang Johnny Enrile augurs an omen depicting the passing of an era, I didn’t realize that is the era of corruption from a Marcos father to his Marcos son.

It may sound outlandish for Duterte Diehard Supporters but Digong’s unjust detention at the International Criminal Court at The Hague looks like what the gods have exacted as equivalent propitiatory sacrifice for the liberation of the Filipino people.

Is it ironic that Digong’s unfinished revolution against corruption in our country could be accomplished by his daughter Sara?

I appeal to all those who do not have seared consciences – Occupy Edsa!

To be continued

   

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