MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. brushed aside allegations made against him by resigned lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, saying he would not “dignify” the claims linked to the billions of pesos worth of anomalous flood control projects.

Malacañang said Co’s latest accusations, made while he is in hiding abroad, were baseless and amounted to hearsay.

President Marcos was asked for comment during his visit to Negros Occidental, where he oversaw relief and rehabilitation operations following 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,” the President said after leading a situational briefing with Cabinet members and national and local officials.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez reiterated the Palace’s challenge for Co to face investigation and formalize his allegations 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 Saturday statement.

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

Malacañang noted that President Marcos himself ordered the investigation into corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects and created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to ensure those involved in ghost and substandard projects are held accountable and that stolen public funds are recovered.

Marcos earlier said many individuals charged with graft and malversation over the anomalous flood control projects could see jail time before Christmas.