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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider NBI dispatches team to arrest Co, 17 others accused in P289.5-M flood control project

NBI dispatches team to arrest Co, 17 others accused in P289.5-M flood control project

Published Nov 22, 2025 10:38 am  |  Updated Nov 22, 2025 01:56 pm
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has dispatched a team to implement the arrest orders issued by the Sandiganbayan against resigned congressman Zaldy Co and 17 other accused in the “anomalous” P289.5 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Co is out of the country and was reportedly seen very recently in Japan. He left the Philippines last July and has not returned since then.
The Philippine government can get hold of Co if his passport is ordered cancelled and a red notice against him is issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
It was not known as of posting time if the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has asked the anti-graft court to cancel Co’s passport that would make him an undocumented alien abroad or if a red notice request has been sent to the Interpol.
The three divisions of the Sandiganbayan have issued the arrest and hold departure orders (HDOs) on the cases filed by the OMB.
No bail was recommended by the Ombudsman in the case for violation of Article 171(4) of the Revised Penal Code on malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents and docketed in the anti-graft court as SB-25-CRM-0041.
The two other cases are for graft against Co and all the accused, and a separate graft case only against the former congressman.
Aside from Co, also ordered arrested were Department of Public Works and Highways-Region IV-B Director Gerald A. Pacanan, Assistant Regional Director Gene Ryan A. Altea, Assistant Regional Director Ruben C. Santos, Jr., Construction Division Chief Dominic G. Serrano, Project Engineer III Felisardo S. Casuno, Materials Engineer Timojen A. Sacar, Planning and Design Division OIC-Chief Montrexis T. Tamayo, Maintenance Division Chief Juliet C. Calvo, Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division OIC-Chief Dennis P. Abagon, Accountant IV Lerma D. Cayco, bids and awards committee member Grace D. Lopez, BAC vice chairperson Friedrich Karl L. Camero, President and Chairperson of Sunwest Board of Directors Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar, Treasurer Cesar X. Buenaventura, and members Consuelo D. Aldon, Engr. Noel Y. Cao, and Anthony L. Ngo.
"The NBI welcomes the Sandiganbayan's swift issuance of arrest warrants and hold departure orders against Zaldy Co and 17 others linked to the alleged multi-billion-peso flood-control irregularities - a first crack of daylight in a case long kept in the shadows," said NBI Officer-in-Charge Angelito DLP Magno in a statement.
Magno said: "The NBI has already dispatched a team to implement the warrants and mobilize the full force of the law. Those who steal from the public will be made to face the public - this is our mandate, and we intend to fulfill it."
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