President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has confirmed that arrest warrants have been issued against former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co and 17 other individuals connected to anomalous flood control projects.
Presidential Announcement of Legal Action
In a video statement released on Friday, November 21, 2025, President Marcos declared that authorities will immediately enforce the arrest warrants without special treatment for any of the accused. The President emphasized there would be no sacred cows in the implementation of justice as the suspects face charges related to infrastructure irregularities.
"The next step is straightforward - our authorities will implement these arrest warrants, arrest them, bring them to court, and hold them accountable under the law. There will be no special treatment and no one will be considered untouchable," Marcos stated in his firm declaration.
Charges and Project Details
The legal action follows the filing of formal charges by the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday. Zaldy Co faces serious allegations including malversation through falsification and two counts of graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.
The case centers on irregularities in the implementation of a P289 million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro. Other individuals named in the arrest warrants include several officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Mimaropa region and board members of Sunwest Corporation, a construction firm that Co co-founded.
Sunwest Corporation's Government Contracts
Sunwest Corporation holds significant prominence in the Philippine construction industry. The company ranks among the top 15 construction firms in the country and has secured approximately 20 percent of all flood control projects nationwide between 2022 and 2025.
This translates to roughly P100 billion worth of infrastructure contracts awarded to the company during this period, making the current allegations particularly significant given the scale of government projects involved.
The development marks a substantial escalation in the government's anti-corruption efforts, particularly concerning high-value infrastructure projects designed to protect communities from flooding disasters.
