“I don’t want to even dignify what he is saying.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday dismissed the accusations made against him by a resigned lawmaker who has been implicated in the billions of pesos worth of anomalous flood control projects.

Malacañang said the latest claims made by ex-Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co while in hiding abroad were all baseless and hearsay.

Marcos was asked for comment by reporters during his visit to Negros Occidental on Saturday to oversee the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts after Typhoon ''Tino''.

“If you want to talk about the storm, we’ll talk about that. I don’t want to even dignify what he is saying,” said the President after leading a situational briefing with Cabinet members and various national and local officials.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez reiterated the Palace’s challenge to Co to face investigation and to formalize his claims through a legally sworn affidavit.

“What he is saying is a bunch of hearsay. Sabi nito, sabi ni ano. Hindi nag rewrite ng script sa second video kahit na kanal na ‘yung una,” Gomez said in a statement on Saturday.

“We continue to issue the same challenge. Come home, sign these (statements) under oath and face the music.”

Malacañang has pointed out that Marcos himself initiated the investigation into the corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects and created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to ensure that all those involved in ghost and substandard projects are charged and embezzled public funds are recovered.

Marcos earlier said many of those who have been charged with graft and malversation for the anomalous flood control projects will see jail before Christmas. Presidential News Desk