Zaldy Co camp claims Ombudsman ‘pre-judged’ graft case over P289-M project

The camp of former Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co said Wednesday they expected the filing of criminal charges against the former lawmaker in connection with the alleged ghost flood control projects.

The government said the malversation and two counts of graft filed against Co were related to an alleged substandard P289-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro built by Sunwest Construction, a firm owned by members of Co’s family.

The cases have been raffled off by the Sandiganbayan against Co, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 4B officials, and Sunwest Construction in connection with the P289-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The former lawmaker previously served as the House appropriations panel chairperson from 2022 to 2024 before he resigned due to health reasons.

Atty. Ruy Rondain said they are not surprised, saying the cases had been decided to be filed “as soon as the issue blew up.” The lawyer said that, as they have repeatedly stated, “the Office of the Ombudsman pre-judged this on Day 1.”

The charges were filed by the Ombudsman on Tuesday, 18 November, without Co’s defense since the former lawmaker failed to file a counter-affidavit on the accusations leveled against him. Rondain said Co refused to file a counter-affidavit because “the Ombudsman already prejudged him.”

The allegation of prejudging the case has been denied by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, saying “the Ombudsman’s job is to prosecute, not judge.”