MANILA — A witness from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) testified that former House Appropriations Committee chairperson and Zaldy Co received P802 million from Sunwest Construction, the contractor of the alleged P289-million ghost flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Lawyer Jan Mark Busa, testifying for the prosecution, said Co received the funds through check deposits from Sunwest accounts between 2019 and 2025, covering his tenure as an Ako Bicol party-list representative. As a public official, Co is barred from maintaining business interests.

Ombudsman prosecutors said Co’s receipt of the money supports their assertion that he remained the beneficial owner of Sunwest and did not divest, contrary to his prior claims.

“Co has no direct participation in the transaction [of the project] because the one contracting with the DPWH is Sunwest. But the fact that he’s the beneficial owner, which we are trying to prove, essentially shows that the benefits and amounts [from Sunwest] went to him,” the prosecution panel said.

Co and other Sunwest officials named as co-accused remain at large, while former Department of Public Works and Highways officials facing charges are detained in Quezon City jail facilities.

Counsel for the nine DPWH officials chose not to cross-examine Busa, noting that his testimony concerned only Co and not their clients.