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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No TRO issued by SC on Zaldy Co's petition; Ombudsman Remulla, ICI required to comment in 10 days

No TRO issued by SC on Zaldy Co's petition; Ombudsman Remulla, ICI required to comment in 10 days

Published Feb 13, 2026 01:25 pm
The Supreme Court (SC) did not issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) that could stop the Sandiganbayan proceedings on the cases of graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds filed against former congressman Zaldy Co.
In a press briefer issued early afternoon on Friday, Feb. 13, the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson said the High Court directed Remulla and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to answer in 10 days Co’s petition and his plea for a TRO.
The period to file comment starts upon receipt of the SC resolution.
The briefer stated: “The SC, without necessarily giving due course to the petition, directed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to comment within 10 days from notice on the petition for certiorari filed by Elizalde S. Co, including his prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO).”
“No TRO was issued by the SC,” the briefer also stated.
After the filing of the comment and a reply (if filed by Co), the SC may proceed to deliberate on the plea for TRO and on the petition itself.
In his petition, Co alleged before the SC that he was deprived of his right to due process when the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds against him before the Sandiganbayan last Nov. 14, 2025.
Aside from the issuance of a TRO, Co asked the SC to nullify the charges filed against him.
On Nov. 21, 2025, the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Co and 17 other officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region IV-B and directors of Sunwest Corporation.
Co has been out of the country since July 2025. In his SC petition, it was affirmed that Co signed his pleading in Sweden.
After the issuance of the arrest order, the anti-graft court then declared Co a fugitive from justice and thereafter ordered the cancellation of his passport.
On Jan. 8, 2026, the Sandiganbayan denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Co through the Rondain & Mendiola law offices.
In denying the motion, the anti-graft court ruled that since Co is still a fugitive from justice, he is not entitled to any judicial relief.
Earlier, the SC had ruled that fugitives from justice are persons who evade criminal prosecution before the courts and those who flee after conviction to avoid the punishment imposed on them.
The SC stressed that fugitives from justice are barred from seeking judicial relief unless they have been arrested based on a court warrant or they have voluntarily surrendered.
Co’s co-accused in the graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds cases are Department of Public Works and Highways (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, Maintenance Division Chief Juliet C. Calvo, and the board of directors of Sunwest Corporation.
Nine DPWH officials have already been arraigned before the fifth and sixth divisions and pleaded "not guilty." They are Pacanan, Altea, Santos Jr., Serrano, Casuno, Cayco, Calvo, Abagon, and Tamayo.
Since no bail was recommended in the malversation case, the female accused are currently at Camp Karingal in Quezon City while the male accused are detained at the Payatas new jail facility, also in Quezon City.
Co also has a pending graft case before the anti-graft court’s seventh division.
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