ILOILO — In a fiery homily before a packed congregation, Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC) director Monsignor Meliton Oso publicly called out resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co, denouncing his denial of involvement in the alleged P100-billion “flood control insertion” controversy and urging him to “come home” and face accountability.
Delivering his message at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday, Oso anchored his condemnation on Christian principles of truth and integrity, saying public officials must not hide behind technicalities or political alliances when billions in taxpayer funds are at stake.
Co, who has been embroiled in a storm of accusations over the questionable budget insertion, released a series of videos denying any link to the anomaly and insisting all funds were allocated under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Oso dismissed the explanation outright.
“Wow! Tell that to the marines! This is a blatant attempt to evade responsibility. The truth is not a game – it affects millions of lives,” he said, stressing that the controversy amounts to a “trillion-peso corruption” scandal that the public has every right to fully understand.
“The people deserve more than empty words; they deserve credible action,” he added, underscoring the demand for transparency.
Appealing directly to the embattled lawmaker, Oso issued a blunt challenge: “Come home. Pirmahi ang imo ginapanghambal. We want the nation to heal. We want to forgive. Pero kun indi ka sinsero, excuse me!”
He linked his call for sincerity to the Feast of Christ the King in the Catholic Church, noting that genuine repentance — much like the biblical teachings — requires honesty, courage, and accountability.
The homily was delivered as civil society groups in Iloilo prepare for a large-scale anti-corruption protest on November 30, Bonifacio Day, targeting what they describe as entrenched political impunity and the sluggish pace of investigations into multi-billion-peso budget anomalies.
Kahublagan Kontra Kurapsyon (KKK-Iloilo) said their demonstration will demand accountability from both the Marcos and Duterte administrations over alleged misuse of public funds—ranging from pork barrel and intelligence funds to questionable flood-control allocations that have stirred national outrage.
Oso echoed the organizers’ sentiments, warning against attempts to sanitize or politicize the scandal.
“We must stand together against the culture of corruption that has stifled our potential and eroded public trust,” he said.
Organizers also cited alleged efforts by supporters of former vice president Sara Duterte to divert blame and reshape public perception.
“Our voices will not be silenced by the political drama, misinformation, or intimidation tactics,” Oso warned.
“November 30 is a day of action for Ilonggos committed to transparency and integrity in governance. We will hold those in power accountable.”/PN
