Jamaine Punzalan

Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, May 10, 2025.

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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/176543434201820251114-ako-bicol-rep-zaldy-co-ABPL6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, May 10, 2025. <em>Ako Bicol</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division denied the motion to consolidate the graft and malversation cases against former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and others involved in an allegedly anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro. </p><p>The anti-graft court, through a resolution dated Dec. 10, ruled that the accused&#x27;s constitutional right to a speedy trial takes precedence over administrative convenience.</p><p>“The oft-quoted benefits of consolidation are to promote the speedy disposition of cases, expedite trial and conserve government resources. However, it is equally settled that the resulting inconvenience and expense on the part of the government cannot be given preference over the right to speedy trial and the protection to a person&#x27;s life liberty or property accorded by the Constitution,” the resolution penned by Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses read.</p><p>The ruling upheld the opposition of several accused, including DPWH Region IV-B officials Gene Altea, Ruben Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Montrexis Tamayo, Juliet Calvo, Dennis Abagon and Lerma Cayco, who argued that consolidation could delay bail proceedings in the malversation case.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/27/dpwh-mimaropa-officials-plead-not-guilty-in-flood-control-graft-case-0946">Eight DPWH-Mimaropa officials plead not guilty in flood control graft case</a></div><p>“They allege that the determination of bail is an issue of their constitutional right to liberty which takes precedence over the administrative convenience of consolidation. They submit that any procedure that may unduly delay the bail hearing may potentially violate their constitutional rights,” it read.</p><p>They argued that the two crimes involve “entirely different elements,” and consolidating the cases could complicate evidence presentation and divide the Sandiganbayan’s attention.</p><p>The court’s Sixth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Sarah Fernandez, earlier granted the prosecution&#x27;s motion to consolidate the two cases, noting that “separate trials for the two cases would be redundant, costly, and time-consuming for the Court and the parties.”</p><div><iframe width="1309" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VDMEzA9k8Ok" title="Ninth suspect in Oriental Mindoro flood control fraud arrested | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division denied the motion to consolidate the graft and malversation cases against former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and others involved in the allegedly anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.</p>

The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division denied the motion to consolidate the graft and malversation cases against former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and others involved in the allegedly anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.

Sandiganbayan junks motion to consolidate cases vs Co, others tagged in Mindoro flood mess

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Sandiganbayan junks motion to consolidate cases vs Co, others tagged in Mindoro flood mess

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 11, 2025 02:27 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 11, 2025 02:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Oriental Mindoro

Zaldy Co

Oriental Mindoro

corruption

flood control

baha

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