Zaldy Co's camp on criminal raps: No surprise

The camp of former Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co said Wednesday they expected the filing of criminal charges against the former lawmaker.

The malversation and two counts of graft filed against Co was in connection with an alleged substandard P289 million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro built by Sunwest Construction, a firm owned by Co’s family members.

The Sandiganbayan has raffled off the cases 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.

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

“We're not surprised. He decided to file these cases as soon as the issue blew up,” Co’s counsel, Atty. Ruy Rondain, said in a message to GMA Integrated News.

“Like I said, the Ombudsman pre-judged this on Day 1,” Rondain added.

The Ombudsman filed the charges on Tuesday, November 18, without Co’s defense since the former lawmaker failed to file a counter affidavit on the charges leveled against him.

At that time, Rondain said Co won’t file a counter affidavit since the Ombudsman already prejudged him.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has denied he has prejudged Co, saying the Ombudsman’s job is to prosecute, not judge. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News