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Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Cong. Zaldy Co, May 23, 2025. Ako Bicol Partylisyt/File

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Rep. Zaldy Co

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176543030406220251114-ako-bicol-rep-zaldy-co-ABPL9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Cong. Zaldy Co, May 23, 2025. Ako Bicol Partylist/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan&#x27;s Fifth Division declared former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy Co and three executives of Sunwest Inc. “fugitives from justice” and ordered the immediate cancellation of their Philippine passports.</p><p>The anti-graft court, chaired by Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, granted the prosecution’s motion to declare Co a fugitive from justice as the arrest warrant against the former lawmaker remained “unserved”. </p><p>“The heads of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), agencies in charge of serving arrest warrants, have called on accused Co to voluntarily surrender. The Prosecution claims that notwithstanding public calls from these agencies, and given the highly publicized nature of this case, there is a reasonable presumption that the accused is fully aware of the warrants yet has decided to stay at large,” the resolution dated Dec. 10 read. </p><p>The prosecution argued that Co’s intent to evade justice was evident when he ignored the House of Representatives’ order to return within 10 days and resigned instead.</p><p>It noted that Co skipped subpoenas to appear before the Independent Commission and failed to file a counter-affidavit to address complaints against him with the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>“Given the foregoing, and the fact that accused Co is also charged with a non-bailable offense of malversation through falsification, his intention to evade prosecution is clear,” the resolution read. </p><p>“The Supreme Court defined a ‘fugitive from justice’ as someone who flees to avoid prosecution or punishment. As the accused&#x27;s actions and his counsel&#x27;s public statements clearly demonstrate a flight to avoid prosecution or punishment, he meets the definition of a fugitive from justice as defined by the law and jurisprudence,” it added.</p><p>The anti-graft court said cancelling Co’s passport was necessary to restrict his movement and facilitate his return to the country to face the charges against him. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/10/zaldy-co-passport-cancelled-1350">Marcos says Zaldy Co passport cancelled</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/1/zaldy-co-passport-cancelled-dilg-1458">DILG: Zaldy Co may be in Portugal; public urged to help find ex-solon</a></div><p>In a separate resolution dated Dec. 10, the Sandiganbayan ordered the cancellation of the passports of Sunwest Inc. Board of Directors President and Chairman Aderma Alcazar, Treasurer Cesar Buenaventura, and board member Noel Y. Cao.</p><p>&quot;By consciously choosing to remain at large and not presenting themselves to the authorities, accused Alcazar, Buenaventura and Cao are evading the legal process,&quot; the resolution read. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/2/nbi-searches-zaldy-co-condo-units-for-bid-rigging-evidence-1102">NBI searches Zaldy Co condo units for bid-rigging evidence</a></div><div><a href="http://DILG: Zaldy Co may be in Portugal; public urged to help find ex-solon">2 Sunwest executives in Mindoro flood control case send surrender feelers: police</a></div><div><iframe width="1295" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8nMjiJdWn7A" title="Marcos announces Zaldy Co&#x27;s passport is cancelled | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division declared former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy Co and three executives of Sunwest Inc. “fugitives from justice” and ordered the immediate cancellation of their Philippine passports.</p>

The Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division declared former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy Co and three executives of Sunwest Inc. “fugitives from justice” and ordered the immediate cancellation of their Philippine passports.

Sandigan tags Zaldy Co, three Sunwest execs ‘fugitives from justice’

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Sandigan tags Zaldy Co, three Sunwest execs ‘fugitives from justice’

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 11, 2025 01:19 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 11, 2025 03:00 PM PHT

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Zaldy Co

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