Prosecution presents key witness in flood control scam vs ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co in court

LocalPolitics
24 Mar 2026 • 12:30 PM MYT
The Manila Times
The Manila Times

One of the longest-running English broadsheets in the Philippines

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MANILA, Philippines —  The prosecution team on Tuesday presented Henry Alcantara as witness in the trial of a case against former congressman Zaldy Co pending before the Sandiganbayan.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed the case last November 2025 against Co and other people for alleged malversation of public funds through falsification of documents. The case was in connection with a road dike construction project in Oriental Mindoro.

The prosecution presented Alcantara, a state witness and a former district engineer of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, in connection with the allegation that Co had beneficial interest in Sunwest, a company that he had allegedly founded.

The prosecution adopted Alcantara's judicial affidavit as his direct testimony and defense lawyers did not conduct a cross examination.

Accused Gerald Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben Santos Jr., Juliet Calvo, Dennis Abagon, Dominic Serrano, Montrexis Tamayo, Lerma Cayco, and Felisardo Casuno were present. The court has denied their bail petitions while Co and several others are at large.