A fugitive former Philippine lawmaker has accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr of directing him to add 100 billion pesos (US$1.7 billion) worth of dubious public works projects to the national budget, a claim that throws new fuel on the corruption scandal that has dogged his administration for months.
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Analysts say the explosive allegation, made in a video sent to reporters by ex-appropriations chairman Zaldy Co, could feed a wider destabilisation push by rival political blocs, including allies of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio who are preparing a major protest this weekend.
Co, once a key Marcos ally, resigned in late September after claiming his family faced “real, direct, grave and imminent” threats amid the flood control investigations.
“I hope I don’t get killed before I am able to reveal everything I know,” he said in the six-minute video. “[The president] told me, ‘I will shoot you if you talk.’”
Philippine anti-corruption protests turn violent
Philippine anti-corruption protests turn violent
Co said he left the country on July 19 for what he described as a medical check-up abroad, days before Marcos’ July 28 State of the Nation Address in which the president castigated the anomalous budget items.
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“But former Speaker Martin told me to stay out of the country. You will be taken care of as instructed by the president,” Co said, referring to Marcos’ cousin and then House leader Martin Romualdez.