Team DailyPedia
Businesswoman Glenda Dela Cruz has strongly denied allegations linking her to former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co, following speculation that surfaced after her recent trip to Portugal.
In a series of social media posts, Dela Cruz confirmed that she arrived in Lisbon and traveled to Porto, where she stayed for five days. However, online speculation soon emerged, attempting to connect her European trip to Co, who has been the subject of controversy and reports that he is currently abroad.
Co has faced allegations involving supposed kickbacks in the national budget and has publicly made claims against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Leyte 1st District Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. He has yet to appear in hearings related to the issue, with reports indicating that he is in Portugal.
In an official statement, Dela Cruz described the claims linking her to Co as baseless.
She rejected insinuations that she had any involvement in money laundering or other illegal financial activities. She also denied rumors that she owns a private jet or transported large sums of cash out of the country, emphasizing that strict border and customs regulations limit the amount of money travelers can carry abroad.
The CEO of a beauty product company said she was puzzled as to how a personal trip led to her being dragged into a political controversy.
Dela Cruz underscored that she is a “high taxpayer” in the Philippines, revealing that she paid ₱111 million in income taxes in 2025. She contrasted this with accusations against Co, who has been linked to alleged misuse of public funds.
She also called on the Senate to address the proliferation of fake news, saying she has long been a target of misinformation.
Highlighting the scale of her operations, Dela Cruz said her company employs more than 1,000 workers, operates numerous delivery trucks daily, and maintains warehouses and manufacturing plants.
“Again, HINDI imposibleng maging BILYONARYO dahil sa sabon. I have 1,000+ employees, napakadami naming truck na lumilibot araw-araw, warehouses at mga planta. Kung di kayo maniwala, see it for yourself,” she wrote.
She maintained that her wealth and travels are legitimate and funded by lawful business earnings, adding that her taxes are fully paid and her operations comply with regulations.
Despite the controversy, Dela Cruz reiterated that she will continue to defend herself against what she called false and defamatory accusations.
