Nine co-accused in a graft case linked to former lawmaker Zaldy Co have pleaded not guilty before the Sandiganbayan. The charges relate to a substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. Seven others, including Co, remain at large.
In Manila, nine individuals accused alongside former lawmaker Zaldy Co entered not-guilty pleas to graft charges on Tuesday, December 2, at the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division. The group includes Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region IV-B Maintenance Division Chief Juliet Calvo and eight other DPWH officials.
Calvo had posted bail of P90,000 prior to the arraignment. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the information against them on November 18, alleging misconduct in a P289.5 million flood control project along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan town, Oriental Mindoro. The contract was awarded to Sunwest Inc., reportedly co-owned by Co.
The project has been criticized for substandard implementation. Seven co-accused, including Co himself, are still fugitives. On Monday, December 1, the Philippine National Police announced that two of those at large had expressed intentions to surrender.
Earlier, on November 28, authorities attempted to arrest three Sunwest board members—Consuelo Dayto Adon, Anthony Li Ngo, and Noel Yap Cao—at a hotel in Pasay City. Among the arrested, seven are now detained at Quezon City Jail, while two, including Calvo, are held at Camp Caringal in Quezon City.
This case highlights ongoing scrutiny of public infrastructure projects and allegations of corruption within government agencies.