Zaldy Co's fugitive status affirmed by Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has upheld its declaration of former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list as fugitive from justice. 

The anti-graft court denied the motion of Co seeking to reverse the ruling declaring him as fugitive from justice due to lack of merit. The motion was also filed beyond allowed period. 

“In fine, there is nothing in accused Co's Motion for Reconsideration that would warrant the reversal of the assailed Resolution. Accordingly,  accused Co's Motion for Reconsideration is denied or being filed beyond the reglementary period and for lack of merit,” the Sandiganbayan said in its March 5 resolution. 

Co is one of the 16 individuals who are facing charges of graft and malversation in connection with the alleged substandard P289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. 

“Although accused Co was shown to have left the Philippines on August 6, 2025, or around three months before the filing of the Information in the present case, his continued absence, and his failure, if not refusal, to return, surrender, and disclose his whereabouts despite knowledge of the present case against him clearly indicates his desire and intent to evade law enforcement and the judicial processes. Thus, there is ground to consider accused Co a fugitive from justice,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“Indeed, it would be incongruous to rule that one who is already outside the country when he or she learns that a criminal Information was filed against him or her and refuses to return to the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution, should be more privileged than one who left after learning that a criminal Information was filed against him or her and refuses to return to the Philippines, also to evade arrest and prosecution,” it added. —AOL, GMA Integrated News