P289.5-M Mindoro flood control project under scrutiny as Zaldy Co trial begins

The trial of the case against former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co before the Sandiganbayan will begin on Jan. 20, with proceedings to focus on the alleged anomalous P289.5-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro that affected service delivery and development outcomes.

Co, who resigned from Congress last September, is facing arrest warrants in connection with the anomalous construction of a road dike that is now placed in the derogatory database of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and hold departure orders (HDOs) have been issued by the Sandiganbayan.

In a press briefing, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan Dizon was one of the 15 co-accused summoned on January 12 to shed light on the cases against Co, who is hiding abroad, and some officials of his construction company, Sunwest Corp.

“On January 20, ako’y magtetestigo sa Sandiganbayan sa trial ni former Congressman Zaldy Co. We will give you updates doon sa aking sworn testimony sa kasong ‘yan,” Dizon said.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation charges before the anti-graft court on Nov. 18, 2025, against Co, representatives of Sunwest Inc., and 17 former DPWH officials from Region 4B (Mimaropa) after receiving complaints from DPWH and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

According to the ICI’s report, the government suffered P63.9 million in damages due to the “grossly substandard” materials used in the flood control project.

Co has denied all the allegations against him and based on the original two-page referral letter submitted to the Ombudsman on Nov. 21 about the flood control bribery scam, Rep. Martin Romualdez was on the list in his capacity as former House speaker.

Dizon clarified that the findings were only preliminary in nature and without prejudice to any additional findings of liability or the possible implication of other persons that may arise in the course of the evaluation and investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Meanwhile, authorities have issued a series of notices filed against Co since the last time the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) asked the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against Co.

Last week, the NBI filed a new plunder complaint against Co before the Department of Justice (DOJ), though the details of which have not yet been disclosed.