Zaldy Co co-accused returning to jail after stroke hospitalization

MANILA, Philippines — The co-accused of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is due for discharge upon doctor’s clearance after suffering a stroke, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division learned on Tuesday.

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 of her other co-accused under the jurisdiction of the anti-graft court.

After the testimony of Calvo’s co-accused Felisardo Casuno, Calvo’s lawyer Edwin Labro informed the court that there was a scheduled Wednesday hearing to tackle her condition.

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“The purpose of the hearing has become moot and academic,” Labro said. “She is due for discharge already.”

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Hence, the court, through Associate Justice Kevin Vivero, ordered the hearing cancelled after being deemed “moot and academic.”

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

Labro noted that they have a motion if Calvo could still be detained in a medical facility at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Female Dormitory in Camp Caringal “while she remains immobile.”

Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, the division chair, however, said it’s up to the BJMP to determine that.

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Calvo’s non-bailable malversation of funds through falsification of public documents case stemmed from a P289.4 million worth of road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro which state prosecutors said was found to have serious structural deficiencies. 

Public Works and Highways Secretary chief Vince Dizon, who inspected the site, discovered that the road dike only has a three-meter steel sheet pile (SSP), way off the 12-meter requirement.

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However, the certificate of inspection (COI) for March 18, 2024 signed by Calvo declared that the SSPs in the project are compliant with the 12-meter requirement.

The COI is one of the requirements for the first progress billing for the contractor, which is Sunwest.

Sunwest is co-founded by Co, who also used to be the chairperson of the powerful House committee on appropriations before his resignation as a party-list representative in September last year amid the widespread public outrage on the multibillion flood control corruption scandal. 

For his part, Co could not participate in the trial as he was earlier declared by Sandiganbayan as a fugitive from justice. 

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A respondent declared as a fugitive from justice could no longer participate in the proceedings and could not seek any judicial relief unless they  surrender voluntarily. /gsg