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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman's next step on ex-Rep Zaldy Co: Apply for Interpol's red notice

Ombudsman's next step on ex-Rep Zaldy Co: Apply for Interpol's red notice

Published Nov 19, 2025 09:51 am
The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) will ask the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for a red notice to locate and arrest former congressman Zaldy Co who was charged criminally before the Sandiganbayan in the P289.5 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Co left the Philippines last July allegedly for a medical checkup and has not returned since then.
An Interpol’s red notice is a request to international law enforcement to locate and arrest a wanted person and his or her turnover to the requesting government.
Co, the directors of his Sunwest Corporation, and several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region IV-B (DPWH-IV-B) have been criminally charged before the Sandiganbayan with graft and malversation of public funds.
No bail was recommended in the cases filed by the OMB on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
During an interview with DZMM's "Gising Pilipinas," Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic "Mico" F. Clavano said that they have requested the anti-graft court to immediately raffle off the three cases.
After the anti-graft court had raffled off the three cases, Clavano said that the court could already issue a warrant of arrest which would be used to apply for Interpol’s red notice.
With the red notice, he said that Co could be located, arrested, deported or extradited, he also said.
At the same time, Clavano said that with the arrest order the OMB can apply for the cancellation of Co’s passport so that the movements abroad of the resigned congressman could be limited and he could no longer travel from one country to another.
Once Co is turned over to the Philippine government, he will be detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) pending trial of the cases and if he is convicted, he will be detained at the facility of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) under the Department of Justice (DOJ), Clavano also said.
Aside from Co, those charged with non-bailable criminal offenses were DPWH Region IV-B Regional Director Gerald A. Pacanan III, Assistant Regional Director Gene Ryan A. Altea, Assistant Regional Director Ruben C. Santos Jr., Project Engineer III Felisardo S. Casuno, Materials Engineer Timojen A. Sacar, and Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division OIC-Chief, Accountant IV Lerma D. Cayco, Planning and Design Division OIC-Chief Montrexis T. Tamayo, and Maintenance Division Chief Juliet C. Calvo.
Also charged were the board of directors of Co’ Sunwest Corporation.
Clavano said all the accused were charged with malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents under Article 217 in relation to Article 171(4) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
He added Co was also charged with violation Section 3(h) of RA 3019 “for receiving unwarranted financial or pecuniary benefits.”
Clavano noted that the case stemmed from the Sept. 9 inspection that was conducted by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito A. Dolor of the road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River located in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. The project was contracted for P289,489,230.06.
“During the inspection, they discovered that the steel sheet piles used for the dike were grossly below the required standard,” he said.
He also said the measurements showed that the inspected sheet piles did not meet the 12-meter specification in the Detailed Engineering Design and were measured as only having three meters.
“It is highly possible that all other sheet piles used in the project were also below specification,” said Clavano who also disclosed that the materials were also found to be substandard.
The findings showed that “there was a scheme that resulted in unwarranted benefits, technical falsification, and the misuse of public funds.”
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