Zaldy Co likely to be sued in Sandiganbayan — Ombudsman Remulla

Former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co may be among those who may face cases in the Sandiganbayan for the flood control controversy, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday.

During the Senate Committee on Finance’s deliberations into the proposed P6.390-billion budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for fiscal year 2026, Remulla said his office is targeting to file cases against several officials linked with the anomalous flood control projects before the anti-graft court within 30 days.

“May mga congressman na kasama do’n…senators, hindi pa ako sigurado,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

(There are congressmen included there. I don’t know yet regarding the senators.)

“Malamang kasama (Zaldy Co), kasi ang naalala ko, may Mindoro case na kasama sa mga finile sa amin,” he added.

(Zaldy Co is probably included because as far as I remember, the Mindoro case was among the cases filed.)

Remulla said it is still unknown how many cases will be filed with the Sandiganbayan as there are up to eight cases related to the flood control mess that are pending and are currently undergoing their preliminary investigation.

To recall, the Palace-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) last month recommended to the Ombudsman the possible filing of graft, malversation, and falsification charges against Co and other Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials.

The ICI recommendation was related to the P289.5 million road dike project along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Co, who is currently abroad, has previously denied allegations against him in connection with the flood control mess.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg earlier said that the Sandiganbayan is drafting new rules to expedite filing of criminal cases and clearing dockets of old cases to prepare for the filing by the Ombudsman of information against officials and personalities involved in anomalous flood control projects. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News