The Sandiganbayan has issued a preliminary attachment order against the 16 properties owned by former congressman Zaldy Co and his wife.

In issuing the order, the anti-graft court’s fifth division granted the prosecution’s motion filed last Jan. 30.

Prosecutors of the Office of the Ombudsman stressed to the court the urgency of issuing a writ of preliminary attachment to satisfy the demand for P215,331,394.47 to serve as security for the satisfaction of the civil liability arising from Co’s criminal cases.

Subjects of the preliminary attachment order are four properties in Makati City, eight in Pasig City, three in Quezon City, and one in Lipa City, Batangas. The properties are owned by Co himself or co-owned by him and his wife Mylene R. Co.

The court said it found “sufficient grounds” to grant the issuance of the writ.

Since Co has already been declared a fugitive from justice, the court said that he should submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court in order to exercise fair opportunity to contest the issuance of the said writ.

It said: “From the foregoing, and as read in conjunction with the Affidavit of Merit and the records on file, the court finds that a sufficient cause of action exists. The present case squarely falls within the ambit of Section 2(b), Rule 127, as it is predicated on a claim involving public funds allegedly embezzled, fraudulently misapplied, or converted by the accused DPWH public officers in conspiracy with accused Co."

The 13-page resolution dated March 4, 2026 was written by Fifth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses with the concurrence of Associate Justices Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac and Gener M. Gito.

Co was charged with graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds in the “anomalous” P215 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

His co-accused in the 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.

Co has been out of the country since July 2025. He has not returned since then.