MANILA, Philippines — January 23, 2026 — Former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co is willing to testify in the impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to former lawmaker Mike Defensor, one of the complainants in the case.

Defensor revealed in a press conference that Co expressed readiness to serve as a witness in the third impeachment complaint filed against Marcos, particularly on issues of graft and corruption and alleged irregularities in budget allocations. “Zaldy Co is willing to testify on our behalf doon sa graft and corruption issue at sa lahat na nalalaman niyang bigayan ng pera, maging yung pagkaayos ng budget in the unprogrammed allocation,” Defensor said. He added that Co had previously wanted to testify before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee but was not allowed, and now sees the impeachment proceedings as an opportunity to present his knowledge.

The impeachment complaint, filed by Defensor and the Philippine Accreditation for National Accountability (PANA), was initially blocked by the House of Representatives on procedural grounds. However, Defensor insisted that Co’s willingness to testify strengthens their case. “Noong malaman ni Zaldy Co na mag-file kami ng impeachment complaint at lalo’t malaman niya na binlock, he is willing to testify to enhance the impeachment complaint we have filed,” Defensor explained.

Defensor said Co may testify via teleconference, given that he has been abroad since being implicated in controversies surrounding budget insertions and alleged corruption in flood control projects. Co’s testimony is expected to cover alleged fund distributions and irregularities in unprogrammed appropriations, which critics claim were manipulated to benefit certain individuals and projects.

The development comes as the Marcos administration faces mounting pressure from opposition figures and watchdog groups over corruption allegations. While the House leadership has so far resisted accepting multiple impeachment complaints, Defensor and his allies believe that Co’s testimony could provide crucial evidence to sustain the charges.

The Palace has yet to issue a statement on Co’s reported willingness to testify, but administration allies in Congress have downplayed the impeachment efforts, calling them politically motivated. 

Whistleblower or Political Weapon?

Zaldy Co’s willingness to testify in the impeachment complaint against President Marcos reopens a familiar question in Philippine politics: is this accountability finally breaking through, or power merely shifting hands? As an insider linked to budget decisions, his testimony could illuminate how public funds were handled behind closed doors.

Supporters see a long-silenced figure stepping forward after being blocked from formal inquiries, proof that institutions can still correct themselves. They argue that impeachment exists precisely for moments like this, when allegations demand airing.

Critics see timing, distance, and motive. Is this truth finally surfacing, or testimony calibrated for maximum political damage?

Image from Philstar.com