Ombudsman files 1st batch of raps vs Zaldy Co, others before Sandigan

[Updated Nov. 18, 2025, 5:23 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed the first batch of cases against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and several former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over alleged anomalous flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro before the Sandiganbayan.

Officials from the Ombudsman, led by Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, lodged the cases at 1:43 p.m. at the anti-graft court.

In a press conference shortly after the filing, Clavano said the cases stemmed from the first referral report submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), involving a project implemented by the DPWH Region IV-B (Mimaropa) through contractor Sunwest, Inc.

“After two months of investigation, gathering evidence, and sifting through testimonies of witnesses, the Office of the Ombudsman announces today that we have issued a resolution finding probable cause to file criminal charges in connection with serious irregularities uncovered in a major flood-control project in Oriental Mindoro,” Clavano said.

Aside from former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, several officials of DPWH Mimaropa—including the regional director, assistant regional directors, project engineer, materials engineer, and the chiefs of the quality assurance, maintenance, and design divisions—as well as members of the Sunwest Corporation board of directors, were named in the charge sheet.

They are facing charges for alleged violation of Article 217 in relation to Article 171(4) of the Revised Penal Code (malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents), and Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).

Co is also facing a separate graft charge for alleged violation of Section 3(h) of RA 3019 for receiving unwarranted financial or pecuniary benefits.

The project covers the construction of a road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River.

No bail

According to Clavano, the anti-graft body recommended no bail for the three accused in the malversation case, noting that the P8.8 million involved amount exceeds the threshold for bail.

“This is the first case that was referred by ICI and, as a result, it is the first case to be filed in court. I would like to emphasize that this is the first of many cases that will be filed in court. There are several cases in the preliminary investigation stage and more in the fact-finding stage.

Clavano revealed that the P289,498,230.06 project was found to have serious structural deficiencies. He said that during an inspection conducted by DPWH chief Vince Dizon and Governor Bonz Dolor on September 9, it was revealed that the steel sheet piles used for the road dike were far below the required standards.

“Their measurements showed an exposed pile length of 2.5 meters, another 0.6 meter embedded in the pile cap, for a total of only about 3.0 meters — far from the 12-meter specification stated in the Detailed Engineering Design,” Clavano said. 

“This led to several critical observations that the measured sheet pile did not meet the 12-meter specification; the material was substandard; and it is highly possible that all other sheet piles used in the project were also below specification,” he added. 

The findings point to a scheme that allowed unwarranted benefits, falsified technical data, and misuse of public funds, Clavano further revealed.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Oriental Mindoro project, along with others in Bulacan, will be the basis of the first cases they will file before the Sandiganbayan

These referrals and complaints stemmed from congressional inquiries that found several flood control projects to be non-existent, allegedly due to collusion among lawmakers, private contractors, and Department of Public Works and Highways officials to embezzle billions of pesos in public funds.

The controversy gained national attention after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address in July, reported that 5,500 flood control projects had been completed under his administration — figures that critics questioned amid persistent flooding. /apl /mr