MANILA, Philippines – Contractors Sarah Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II stunned senators on Monday as they named lawmakers and government officials allegedly involved in anomalies in flood-control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
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| Photo courtesy: YouTube/Senate of the Philippines |
The Discaya couple, previously accused of monopolizing projects worth billions, has turned state witnesses.
They revealed that several politicians demanded payoffs to approve and release funds for projects, while others used their influence in bidding and awards committees to disqualify firms that refused to comply.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon panel’s third hearing on anomalous flood-control projects, the Discaya couple identified the following individuals:
- Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo
- Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde
- Marikina Rep. Marcy Teodoro
- Terence Calatrava, Former Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas of the Philippines
- USWAG Ilonggo Party-list Rep. Jojo Ang
- Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas
- AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones
- San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes
- Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona
- Former congressman Benjamin Agarao, Jr.
- Former congressman Florencio Gabriel Noel
- Occidental Mindoro Rep. Odie Tarriela
- Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia
- Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo
- Former congressman Teodorico Haresco, Jr.
Meanwhile, the DPWH officials allegedly involved were:
- Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte of DPWH Region V
- Director Ramon Arriola III of Unified Project Management Offices
- District Engineer Henry Alcantara of DPWH Bulacan 1st District
- Undersecretary Robert Bernardo
- District Engineer Aristotle Ramos of DPWH Metro Manila 1st District
- District Engineer Edgardo Pingol of DPWH Bulcana Sub-Deo
- District Engineer Michael Rosaria of DPWH Quezon 2nd DEO
“Karamihan sa mga kawani ng DPWH na nabanggit sa itaas ay paulit-ulit na binabanggit ang delivery ng pera ay para kay Zaldy Co, na dapat ay at least 25%,” Curlee Discaya said.
“Si Cong. Marvin Rillo naman ay ilang beses binabanggit ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez bilang kanyang malapit na kaibigan,” he added.
“The percentage they demanded ranged from no less than 10% and went up to 25%, which became a condition to ensure the contract’s implementation would not be hindered,” Curlee said.
Curlee Discaya admitted that their companies handed over money to some legislators. “We were forced to give kickbacks to several lawmakers,” he said, tagging House members in the process.
For her part, Sarah Discaya explained that their participation in the corrupt system was out of fear and necessity. “Hindi namin ginusto kailanman na mapasama sa ganitong sistema, pero kailangan namin magpatuloy para sa pamilya at mga empleyado namin,” she told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. She added that mounting debts and threats to their family’s safety pushed them to cooperate with corrupt practices despite their reluctance.
Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta said he had already spoken with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla regarding security arrangements for the Discayas following their explosive testimony.
The couple was previously described by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism as the “king and queen of flood control projects,” after their companies and joint ventures cornered about ₱31 billion worth of contracts from 2022 to 2025.
The Senate is expected to summon the implicated officials in future hearings, while the DOJ and NBI will study the couple’s statements for possible criminal charges.
Their testimony marks a turning point in the probe, exposing what they described as a “deeply entrenched system” of corruption in government projects.
— The Summit Express