Metro Manila, Philippines – The anti-graft court granted the prosecution’s request to temporarily seize 16 properties owned by resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, covering P215 million which represented his civil liability in his graft case linked to the flood control scandal.
Co is facing graft charges with the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division in relation to the alleged substandard road dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, contracted by Sunwest Inc. He is believed to be a beneficial owner of the firm.
In filing the motion on Jan. 30, the prosecutors said the Co’s properties have to be attached to serve as security for the satisfaction of his civil liability, arguing that he “may easily alienate or conceal his remaining assets” in the country.
“The court in the exercise of its discretion, finds sufficient grounds for the issuance of the writ of preliminary attachment prayed for and the implementation of the same,” read the order dated March 4 but released on Monday, March 9.
According to the resolution penned by Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division chairman, the “prima facie factual foundation” for the attachment of the properties, especially that Co was declared a “fugitive from justice.”
The rule sets provisional remedies in criminal cases.
The court directed its sheriff to attach eight real properties in Pasig City, four in Makati City, three in Quezon City, and one in Lipa City, Batangas.
The fugitive’s wife, Mylene Co, was also a registered owner in most of the properties.
From the 16 properties, the prosecution has moved to exclude one Makati City property as its title had already been cancelled and the property having been sold in July 2025.
The former AKO BICOL party-list representative is charged with wrongful appropriation and misapplication of public funds amounting to around P215 million through falsification of public documents and causing undue injury to the government.
His co-accused were former public works officials in Mimaropa and Sunwest board members.
They also face malversation charges with the Oriental Mindoro flood control project.
