THE Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division granted the prosecution’s motion to issue a writ of preliminary attachment against certain properties pending a graft case filed against former lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.
The Office of the Ombudsman last November filed the case against Co and other persons — including former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa — before the Sandiganbayan in connection with a road dike construction project in Oriental Mindoro.
The Fifth Division said in a resolution promulgated on March 4, it found “sufficient grounds” for issuing the writ to attach Co’s properties in the Philippines as part of the Ombudsman’s demand that Co pay P215,331,394.47 for “the alleged injury or damages suffered by the government” in connection with the case.
Attached to the Ombudsman motion were copies of original certificates of title, transfer certificates of title and condominium certificates of title over the prosecution-enumerated properties “with accused Co, his wife [...], or both spouses, as the registered owners.”
The court said that during the hearing on Feb. 11, the prosecution asked that a property included in its motion be excluded because it had already been sold last July.
It added that Co still has “an adequate and fair opportunity to contest the issuance of this writ.”