(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Wednesday testified before the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division at the resumption of the hearing on the graft case against fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co and several former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials over an allegedly substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
The case, which involved the P289.4 million worth Sunwest project, was intended to help mitigate flooding in the province, particularly in its Naujan town, according to the DPWH.
Dizon took the witness stand, testifying that he inspected the structure in September 2025 and discovered that the road dike only has a three-meter steel sheet pile (SSP), which is far from the 12-meter requirement.
He likewise stated that portions of the dike were eroding and collapsing after rainfall, which he attributed to an inferior foundation.
Sunwest Corp., a construction company was co-founded by Co, who has fled the country in July 2025 and has been in hiding since. He is facing graft and malversation charges.
The anti-graft court has already declared Co as a fugitive of justice.
The disgraced former congressman was also slapped with a plunder with former speaker Martin Romualdez for allegedly receiving, directly or indirectly, in several occasions, commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks, “commitments” and other pecuniary benefits amounting to at least P7.44 billion in connection with flood control projects.
Next to give his testimony is former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. He is set to take the witness stand on Oct. 7.
The DPWH said Dizon’s testimony was part of the agency’s continuing cooperation with other government agencies to hold accountable officials allegedly involved in the misuse of public funds.
The department said its efforts were in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to clean up the agency and address alleged corruption in public works projects.
