Cops enforce warrants vs AKB's Co, Sunwest

By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY --- A day after the Sandiganbayan issued arrest warrants against former Ako Bicol Party-list representative and founder Elizaldy “Zaldy” S. Co and executives of Sunwest Inc. for their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects in Mindoro, police units in Albay immediately moved to implement the orders.

On Saturday, personnel of the Legazpi City Police Station attempted to serve the warrant of arrest on Co at the Sunwest Inc. office along Diversion Road in Barangay Bogtong, Legazpi City. The warrant stemmed from the ongoing investigation into the multibillion-peso flood control anomaly.

A similar warrant was served on Sunwest Inc. executives the same day.

“This action comes after the Sandiganbayan issued warrants of arrest for the former solon and 17 other individuals, including officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and executives of Sunwest Corporation,” said Albay Police Provincial Director Col. Noel Nuñez.

Police reported that none of the accused were present during the service of the warrants. Relatives and employees reached by investigators also claimed to have no knowledge of their whereabouts.

In Daraga, police also attempted to serve the arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on November 21, 2025 against Gene Ryan Alaurin Altea, who was charged with Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Documents under Article 217 in relation to Article 171(4) of the Revised Penal Code. No bail was recommended.

Daraga Police Chief Lt. Col. Edgar E. Azotea served the warrant at Barangay Tagas at around 3:56 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Altea was likewise not present.

“Based on information gathered from his wife and mother, Altea returned home last October after a trip to Masbate and is probably in Manila as of press time,” Azotea said.

“Daraga PNP will continue exerting efforts to arrest wanted persons as part of the PNP’s anti-criminality campaign to ensure public safety, uphold the rule of law, and bring offenders to justice,” he added.

In Guinobatan, the municipal police also served a copy of the arrest warrant against Engr. Noel Yap Cao, a Sunwest Inc. board member and resident of Barangay Ilawod. Cao was not present when police arrived. The warrant stemmed from alleged irregularities in a flood control project in Region 4B, a matter raised by Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor.

Co, Altea, Cao, and 12 others were earlier charged with graft and malversation over the allegedly substandard ₱289.5-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

The Sandiganbayan issued the warrants on Friday, November 21, 2025, following the filing by the Office of the Ombudsman of two counts of graft and one count of malversation through falsification against Co, 10 DPWH officials, and five Sunwest Inc. officials—the contractor of the questioned projects.