MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should explain the reason behind the resignation of three high-ranking cabinet officials despite the administration’s position that former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co’s claims over social media carry no weight.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, in an online press briefing on Friday, stressed that Justice Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz — whose resignation was reportedly accepted earlier — and former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman were not involved in the infrastructure corruption scheme until Co released a series of video statements last November.
Co named Pangandaman as the cabinet official who directed him to place P100 billion worth of insertions into the 2025 budget, while Cadiz was described as one of the personalities that the former lawmaker talked to, to verify if the instructions really came from Marcos.
“We are asking and daring the Malacañang to give a complete and honest explanation as to why they accepted the resignation of Usec. Jojo Cadiz, we know that he is one of the names mentioned, particularly by […] Zaldy Co, there should be an explanation why he was removed,” Tinio said after news broke that Cadiz had resigned.
“At one point, Malacañang said that Zaldy Co’s testimony has no value whatsoever, but now, not only one, but three officials of President Marcos Jr.’s cabinet have been removed: ES (Executive Secretary Lucas) Bersamin, Usec. Jojo Cadiz, and Secretary Pangandaman ng DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” he added.
Tinio said that of the three, Cadiz and Pangandaman were named only by Co, as former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo did not identify the two in his supposed affidavit.
Accusations carry weight?
If both Cadiz and Pangandaman left office because of Co’s statements, Tinio said it might be an admission that Co’s accusations carry weight — and must be subjected to a more thorough investigation.
“Former Usec. Bernardo did not mention Pangandaman or Jojo Cadiz. That’s why this means, there is no basis for their so-called resignation or removal other than Zaldy Co’s allegations. This is like an admission that Zaldy Co’s statements carry weight,” he said.
“Now, we condemn Malacañang — whether it’s the President himself or his spokesperson — for outright refusal to explain to the public the real reason why these officials resigned,” he added.
During a press briefing on Friday, Palace press officer, Undersecretary Claire Castro said that information coming from the Department of Justice indicated that Cadiz has resigned from his post.
“As far as we know, he has already submitted his resignation,” Castro said in Filipino.
Last November 25, Acting Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said Cadiz went on leave and was scheduled to return to office last December 1. While Vida did not elaborate on Cadiz’s whereabouts, he said Cadiz had not applied for travel authorization.
Last November 17, Castro said that President Marcos accepted Bersamin and Pangandaman’s resignation, which were supposedly made out of ‘delicadeza’ amid the investigation into the anomalous flood control projects.
In his first video statement, Co questioned why Marcos appeared surprised by the 2025 budget, given that it was allegedly the Chief Executive’s idea to make insertions.
According to Co, everything started after Pangandaman called him to inform that Marcos wants P100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 national budget.
Co said Pangandaman asked him to confirm the President’s orders with Presidential Legislative Liason Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin — the former executive secretary’s grandnephew. After confirmation, Co said he told former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez about this instruction.
In the same video, Co said that he appealed to Pangandaman and Bersamin to just put half of the P100 billion to unprogrammed funds so that funds for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would not exceed the allocation for the Department of Education (DepEd).
Under the 1987 Constitution, the education sector should have the highest budget prioritization. Co said the appeal was made before Pangandaman, Bersamin, Romualdez, and Cadiz. /mr
