Sandiganbayan seizes Zaldy Co’s 16 properties
The Sandiganbayan has seized 16 properties worth over P215 million owned or co-owned by resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, who faces graft and malversation charges over a P289.4-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
In a resolution dated March 4 but released on Monday, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division granted the prosecution’s ex parte motion for the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment, temporarily placing under the court’s custody the properties owned by the former lawmaker or co-owned with his wife.
An ex parte motion is a formal request asking the court to act on a matter without prior notice to or participation by the opposing party.
The Sandiganbayan said the move aims to secure potential civil liability arising from the alleged fraudulent disbursement of public funds in connection with the road dike project, while Co, who has been declared a fugitive, remains outside the country.
Covered by the court order are four properties in Makati City, eight in Pasig City, three in Quezon City and one in Lipa City, Batangas. These include condominium units, parking spaces and parcels of land.
Sufficient cause of action
The Sandiganbayan said that “a sufficient cause of action exists against accused Co for the recovery of civil liability arising from the offenses charged,” as mentioned in the prosecution’s affidavit of merit, which outlined the alleged fraudulent disbursement of public funds and falsification of supporting documents for the P289.4-million project.
Citing the facts of the case, the antigraft court noted that the accused left the country on Aug. 6, 2025, has no record of return, and has since been declared a fugitive from justice, placing his assets beyond its reach.
It added that “there is no other sufficient security for the claim sought to be enforced,” meaning the government may be unable to satisfy any future judgment if the properties were not attached.
The Sandiganbayan also emphasized that, despite the ex parte issuance, the accused and third parties still have “an adequate and fair opportunity to contest the issuance of this writ and endeavor to cause its negation or nullification.”
Co left the country for a supposed medical checkup. On Nov. 18 that same year, the Office of the Ombudsman filed before the antigraft court one count of malversation and two counts of graft against him and 17 other individuals, including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, over the road dike project.
Co resigned from the House of Representatives on Sept. 29. It was announced on Dec. 10 that his Philippine passport was already canceled although there are reports that he holds a Portuguese passport that he acquired many years ago.
3 arrest warrants
The former lawmaker, who was implicated in the case because of his ties to Sunwest Inc., the project contractor, faces three arrest warrants. The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the fact-finding body created by Malacañang to look into public works anomalies, found the Naujan project not only “grossly substandard” but also covered up by “false certifications” that allowed payments to Sunwest.
The ICI noted that Co, despite the supposed divestment of his interests from Sunwest in 2019, retained “beneficial ownership” of the company.
Co is also facing a plunder complaint in the Department of Justice that was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation for allegedly accepting kickbacks in connection with allegedly anomalous flood control projects. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
