The Office of the Ombudsman has filed fresh graft and malversation charges against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and several ex-DPWH officials over a flood-control project in Bulacan that inspectors found was never built, even as around P77 million in public money was paid out.
What the charges allege
In a case filed before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman charged Co with one count each of malversation of public funds and violation of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, per the case information.
The Ombudsman’s resolution said the repeated approvals of payments “in spite of the glaring irregularities” in the project’s payment certificates are a strong indication of participation in diverting public funds meant for flood control.
The ‘ghost’ flood project
The case involves a riverbank protection structure along the Balagtas River in Purok 4, Barangay San Juan, awarded to SYMS Construction Trading with a revised contract of roughly P77.2 million. It was supposed to start on Feb. 24, 2025 and was declared 100 percent complete on May 2, 2025. On inspection, the Ombudsman said, it was non-existent.
Who was charged
Named with Co were seven former DPWH officials: Brice Hernandez, Arjay Salvador Domasig, Jaypee De Leon Mendoza, Nino Lawrence Vergara Morales, Juanito Coronel Mendoza, Floralyn Yutuc Simbulan and Christina Mae Del Rosario Pineda, plus Co’s staff John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay.
One ex-DPWH figure, Henry Alcantara, was left out of the information after being admitted to the witness protection program.
Where is Zaldy Co
Co is currently outside the country, having been spotted multiple times across Europe, GMA News reported.
What’s next
The case now moves before the Sandiganbayan. The new raps add to scrutiny over how DPWH funds are distributed, and come amid broader questions about government infrastructure contracts. Co and his co-accused remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
