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December 11, 2025 | 6:16pm
Former congressman Zaldy Co breaks his silence in a video sent to media yesterday, alleging a presidential directive to insert P100 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has declared former lawmaker Zaldy Co and three other individuals involved in a flood control case as fugitives from justice.
In its resolutions dated December 10, the anti-graft court also cancelled Co’s passport.
"Accused Elizaldy 'Zaldy' Salcedo Co is DECLARED a fugitive from justice," the anti-graft court's ruling read.
According to the Sandiganbayan, Ombudsman prosecutors established a pattern of non-compliance and avoidance by Co, indicating his intent to evade prosecution.
The court noted that Co left the country before formal charges were filed and warrants of arrest were issued.
"It must be emphasized that accused left the country at the time when investigations into alleged corruption in flood control projects were active and when formal charges against him were imminent," the court's ruling read.
"His strategically timed flight, therefore, provides sufficient ground for the reasonable inference that his action constituted a deliberate attempt to flee from justice," it added.
The anti-graft court also said that this measure is both appropriate and necessary to help enforce the existing warrant of arrest and compel the Co to surrender and submit to the court's jurisdiction.
Along with Co, the passports of Aderma Angelie Alcazar, Cesar Buenaventura, and Noel Cao were also cancelled, according to a separate Sandiganbayan resolution dated December 10. They were likewise declared fugitives from justice.
The case involves an alleged ghost flood control project for the construction of a road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, which had a budget of P289.5 million.
Nine of Co’s co-accused have already been arrested and are in detention.
