Sandiganbayan orders seizure of Zaldy Co’s 16 properties

MANILA, Philippines – Acting on a petition filed by state prosecutors, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has ordered the seizure of 16 properties of resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, with an estimated value of over P215 million.

In a 13-page decision promulgated on March 4 and made public on Monday, March 9, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division said it found “sufficient grounds” for the prosecution’s ex parte motion to issue a writ of preliminary attachment against the properties of Co, who faces graft and malversation cases in connection with the flood control mess.

“ACCORDINGLY, premises considered, the Prosecution’s Ex-Parte Motion for Issuance of Writ of Preliminary Attachment is GRANTED. Let a WRIT OF PRELIMINARY ATTACHMENT issue against accused Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Salcedo Co requiring the Sheriff of this court to attach so much of the property in the Philippines of said accused including those specifically listed in page 2 of this Resolution, not exempt from execution, as may be sufficient to satisfy the applicant’s demand in an amount not exceeding PHP 215,331,394.47,” the court said.

The properties will be placed under court custody pending the case.

Eight of the properties covered by the order are in Pasig City, four in Makati City, three in Quezon City, and one in Lipa, Batangas.

In filing the petition before the anti-graft court in early February, the prosecution said the properties were enough to cover Co’s civil liability in connection to his graft case stemming from an alleged anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental — should he be found guilty.

“According to the prosecution, there is an urgent need to attach accused Co’s properties to serve as security for the satisfaction of the civil liability arising from the offense,” the court said in its decision.

A writ of preliminary attachment is a provisional remedy issued upon orders of the court where an action is pending.

Co is among the accused in the flood control-related graft and malversation cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in November 2025, and has pending warrants of arrest issued by the Sandigabayan. – Rappler.com