THE Sandiganbayan has declared former House appropriations panel chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co a “fugitive from justice” and directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel his Philippine passport.
In a December 10 resolution, the anti-graft court said Co demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance and avoidance, indicating intent to evade prosecution.
Co and 16 others face graft and malversation charges over the P289-million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.
“Accused Co resigned instead of complying with the House of Representatives’ order to return to the country; he refused to comply with subpoenas from the ICI and he did not file a counter-affidavit with the Office of the Ombudsman,” the court said.
It added that Co left the country while investigations were ongoing and formal charges were imminent, concluding that his departure “constituted a deliberate attempt to flee from justice.”
In a separate resolution, the court also declared Aderma Angelie Alcazar, Cesar Buenaventura, and Noel Cao—directors of Sunwest Inc., the project contractor—fugitives for evading criminal charges, ordering the immediate cancellation of their passports under R.A. 11983.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier confirmed Co’s passport has been canceled, while the DFA said the process was completed on December 10.
Co, who went abroad for medical reasons, has yet to return and maintains his innocence.
