Former congressman Zaldy Co has dropped a political bombshell. In a viral social-media video, he claims that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his cousin, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, ordered him to insert ₱100 billion into the 2025 national budget. He says much of this “extra” money was funneled into flood-control and infrastructure projects.

Co didn’t stop at accusations. He even released a detailed list of projects allegedly covered by this massive insertion. These include roads, drainage systems, riverbank protection, viaducts, and even money for hosting the 2026 ASEAN Summit.

He says these orders came straight from the top, backed by a meeting in Malacañang and even a “brown leather bag” full of instructions.

If what Co is saying turns out to be true, then this isn’t just another political scandal. It would show that even the most powerful can take advantage of the system, on top of the long-standing loopholes that allows huge infrastructure funds slip into the budget unnoticed.

Of course, the Palace has struck back. Officials have dismissed Co’s allegations as “pure hearsay,” calling them politically motivated. Budget Secretary Pangandaman says all the items Co mentioned were already in the official spending plan before the bicameral budget talks even began.

Skeptics argue Co himself isn’t blameless when he admitted to doing insertions and claims to have documentation.

Still, the nationwide anger is real. For many Filipinos, this isn’t just a budget scandal but about broken trust. Thousands are taking to the streets in Manila and other cities to demand accountability and reform.

If Co’s claims hold up, it could mark a turning point, that no one, not even the President or his closest allies, should be above scrutiny. But if this whole episode becomes just another political drama that fades away, public faith in institutions may suffer an even more serious blow.

For most Filipinos, the real problem now is that they no longer know who’s telling the truth.