Zaldy Co, 8 DPWH execs face malversation raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed malversation and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against former congressman Zaldy Co and eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over an allegedly anomalous P77-million flood control project in Balagtas, Bulacan.

The ombudsman said its investigators found probable cause to charge Co and DPWH officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, Arjay Domasig, Jaypee Mendoza, Niño Lawrence Morales, Juanito Mendoza, Floralyn Simbulan and Christina Mae Pineda with graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

Co’s staff members John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay were also included in the indictment.

The charges involve the construction of a riverbank protection structure along the Balagtas River in Purok 4, Barangay San Juan, Balagtas, Bulacan.

The project was awarded to SYMS Construction Trading and had a revised contract amount of approximately P77.2 million.

The ombudsman said it was found through inspection that the structure was non-existent despite documents and certifications indicating accomplishment of the project.

“The project supposedly started last February 24, 2025 and was declared to be 100% accomplished on May 2, 2025. However, upon inspection, it was non-existent,” the resolution read.

The ombudsman, in finding probable cause, said Alcantara collected kickbacks from contractors and delivered these to Co, who ensured that the projects would be “inserted” in the National Expenditure Program prepared by the executive and eventually funded in the General Appropriations Act or the national budget.

“Co’s participation was therefore necessary or indispensable in this elaborate scheme of embezzling funds intended for flood control projects,” the resolution stated.