The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Arrest warrants have been issued by the Sandiganbayan for former congressman Zaldy Co and 17 others after the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) directed law enforcement agencies, led by the Philippine National Police (PNP), to effect their arrests.
Co and several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials as well as directors of Sunwest Corporation have been formally charged with the OMB for graft and malversation of public funds in the P289.5 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
The cases, filed by the OMB last Nov. 18, were raffled to the fifth, sixth and seventh divisions of the Sandiganbayan.
Apart from resigned congressman Co, others with arrest warrants are: Gerald A. Pacanan (DPWH Region IV-B Director); Gene Ryan A. Altea (Assistant Regional Director); Ruben C. Santos Jr. (Assistant Regional Director); Dominic G. Serrano (Construction Division Chief); Felisardo S. Casuno (Project Engineer III); Timojen A. Sacar (materials engineer); Montrexis T. Tamayo (Planning and Design Division OIC-Chief); Juliet C. Calvo (Maintenance Division Chief); Dennis P. Abagon (Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division OIC-Chief); Lerma D. Cayco (accountant IV); Grace D. Lopez (bids and awards committee member); Friedrich Karl L. Camero (BAC vice chairperson); Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar (President and Chairperson of Sunwest Board of Directors); Cesar X. Buenaventura (treasurer); and Consuelo D. Aldon, Engr. Noel Y. Cao and Anthony L. Ngo (members – Sunwest Board of Directors).
In a statement, the OMB said, “To the law enforcement agencies whose responsibility it is to effect the arrests — execute the warrants without delay. Ensure their immediate arrest and bring them before the bar of justice.”
The three cases filed against Co and the others went to three different divisions.
The first graft charge is for violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which went to the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division. Accused are Co and the 17 others.
The second graft charge is for violation of Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. It was raffled to the Seventh Division, with Co as the only accused.
The single violation of the Revised Penal Code or Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Documents went to the Sixth Division. Charged were all 18 of the accused.
The cases arose from investigations conducted last September by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon together with Governor Bonz Dolor on the anomalous P289 million flood-control project along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujuan, Oriental Mindoro.
The on-site inspection revealed that steel sheet piles used for the dike were below the required standards. Steel piles were discovered to be only three meters long, against the required 12 meters specified in the Detailed Engineering Design.
The Ombudsman will ask the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a Red Notice to alert other international law enforcement agencies to arrest Co who has been out of the Philippines since July 2025.
The Sandiganbayan is expected to soon order the cancellation of Co’s passport to limit his movement and travel in other countries.