‘My God!’ Magalong Blasts Zaldy Co Over ‘HYPOCRITICAL’ Sacrifice Claim

Baguio mayor unleashes fiery Senate tirade: “You stole from the people, then call it sacrifice?”

MANILA — Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong went on a scathing public tirade against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, branding him “shameless,” “callous,” and “hypocritical” for portraying his resignation from Congress as a “sacrifice” — despite being implicated in massive kickback scandals from ghost and substandard flood-control projects.

Speaking during a Senate hearing on blockchain technology, Magalong tore into corrupt politicians and contractors, accusing them of arrogance and utter disregard for the public.

“They’re just so comfortable doing it—they’re not even afraid. Imagine, they don’t even think about the people? It’s insulting,” Magalong thundered. “Recently, that congressman involved, Zaldy Co, said he didn’t abandon it, it was a sacrifice. My God! You stole from the people, and then you say it was a sacrifice?”

Millions in Suitcases

During Senate Blue Ribbon corruption hearings, former DPWH officials Henry Alcantara and Roberto Bernardotestified that millions of pesos in kickbacks, stuffed in suitcases, were handed to Co in exchange for approving ghost and substandard flood-control projects.

Magalong didn’t hold back.

“Has the standard of our Congress fallen this low? Have we become this shameless? Numb, utterly callous, hypocritical? It’s insulting to the Filipino mentality,” he said.

‘Cottage Industry’ of Corruption

Magalong also shared insights from his brief stint with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), where he uncovered a “cottage industry” of individuals profiting from fake or defective projects.

He revealed that he resigned after being “eased out,” fed up with the deep-seated corruption plaguing government infrastructure programs.

Calling the system “overwhelming,” Magalong said it’s impossible to handle the thousands of corruption cases in a single year. He blamed lawmakers’ budget insertions for bloating the national budget and creating more avenues for theft.

Blockchain vs. Corruption

Despite the bleak reality, Magalong expressed hope that blockchain technology could be a game-changer in exposing corrupt schemes.

“We’re not stupid. But what’s happening is, they treat Filipinos like fools so they think no one will notice. It’s insulting,” he declared.