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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ex-DPWH official testifies on Zaldy Co's ownership of firm in 'anomalous' P289-M flood control project in Oriental Mindoro

Ex-DPWH official testifies on Zaldy Co's ownership of firm in 'anomalous' P289-M flood control project in Oriental Mindoro

Published Mar 24, 2026 02:39 pm
A former official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan testified before the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday, March 24, and narrated the connection of resigned congressman Zaldy Co with construction firm Sunwest, Inc.
Sunwest was the contractor of the “anomalous” P289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro where Co and several co-accused were charged with graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds before the Sandiganbayan.
Despite an arrest order, Co has not been apprehended. He left the Philippines in July 2025 and has not returned since then. He has been declared a fugitive from justice by the anti-graft court.
In his testimony before the sixth division of the Sandiganbayan, Henry Alcantara – now a state witness in some flood control cases – told the anti-graft court that he knew Co and he is aware about the former lawmaker’s dealings in flood-control projects in Bulacan.
Alcantara testified that he met Co in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) where they talked about the latter’s plans to allocate funds to Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (B1-DEO).
His testimony was allowed by the court despite the objections aired by defense lawyers to prove the beneficial ownership of Co of Sunwest, Inc.
Defense lawyers said that Alcantara’s affidavit and his testimony are irrelevant because they made no reference to the Oriental Mindoro project.
The defense argued that Alcantara’s judicial affidavit was irrelevant and immaterial to the case, noting it made no reference to the Oriental Mindoro project and did not address any of the acts alleged in the criminal information.
The prosecution, however, insisted that Alcantara was presented as a witness to prove Co’s ownership of a construction firm that handled the project in Oriental Mindoro.
In his testimony, Alcantara said that he met Co sometime in the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2021 and got the latter’s contact number from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
Aside from Co, also charged in the Oriental Mindoro project were DPWH Region IV-B Regional Director Gerald A. Pacanan, Assistant Regional Director Gene Ryan A. Altea, Assistant Regional Director Ruben D. Santos, Jr., Construction Division Chief Dominic G. Serrano, Project Engineer III Felisardo S. Casuno, Accountant IV Lerma D. Cayco, Maintenance Division Head Juliet Calvo, officer-in-charge Chief of Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division Dennis Pelo Abagon, and Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Montrexis Tamayo.
They were also charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan’s fifth division. Co has a separate graft case before the court’s seventh division.

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Sandiganbayan flood control cases zaldy co
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