Zaldy Co’s co-accused asks for house arrest amid stroke

MANILA, Philippines — The co-accused of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co asked a Sandiganbayan division if she could be placed under house arrest after suffering from a stroke.

Juliet Calvo, the former maintenance division chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region IV-B,  faces a malversation case filed against her and eight other co-accused under the jurisdiction of the anti-graft court.

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Wednesday conducted a hearing for Calvo’s pending hospital and house arrest motions.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The motions of accused Calvo are submitted for resolution,” said Associate Justice Lord Villanueva after the hearing. 

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Calvo suffered from a stroke on Aug. 5 which led to a total paralysis, her lawyer Edwin Labro told the court on Aug. 13.

During the Aug. 13 hearing, Labro only filed an urgent motion for hospital arrest, but he told reporters he lodged another motion for Calvo’s house arrest “last week” amid developments on her medical condition.

READ: Zaldy Co’s coaccused seeks hospital arrest after stroke

Labro presented Dr. Anthony Lontoc, who testified before the court via teleconferencing.

Article continues after this advertisement

“I would at least recommend hospital arrest or house arrest as long as the environment is well-suited for her situation,” Lontoc told the court. 

Lontoc, who was Calvo’s physician since 2018, said her condition has improved, noting that the accused is only “50 percent paralyzed on her left” unlike “for the first two weeks” when she was “completely paralyzed.”

Article continues after this advertisement

“As of now while there is still improvement, she still needs someone to take care of her,” the doctor said.

Calvo is still confined in a private hospital, and prosecutors did not object to her continuous confinement.

In July 21, Calvo took the witness stand to defend herself, saying her signing of a document which led to the release of funds for an allegedly anomalous project is just ministerial.

The Supreme Court said an act is only considered ministerial when it does not require the exercise of discretion or judgement and was just in obedience to the mandate of a legal authority. 

READ: Zaldy Co’s co-accused stresses ‘voluntary surrender’ in court

Calvo’s case stemmed from a P289.4 million worth of road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro built by Sunwest which DPWH found to have serious structural deficiencies. 

READ: Ombudsman files 1st batch of raps vs Zaldy Co, others before Sandigan

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Sunwest is co-founded by Co, who could not participate in the trial as he was at large abroad, which prompted the court to declare him as a fugitive from justice, barring him from participating in the proceedings unless he surrendered voluntarily. /jpv