Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya, owners of St. Gerrard Construction Company, attend a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged ghost flood control projects at the Philippine Senate on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

Kaxandra Salonga

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17605207927231760520790078.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya, owners of St. Gerrard Construction Company, attend a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged ghost flood control projects at the Philippine Senate on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya, owners of St. Gerrard Construction Company, attend a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged ghost flood control projects at the Philippine Senate on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, whose firms are among the top 15 awarded flood-control projects, will no longer cooperate with the government investigation into corruption in projects that were substandard, unfinished, or did not exist.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/8/discaya-couple-aide-face-p7-1-billion-tax-charges-1030"><strong>BIR files P7.1-B tax complaints vs Discayas, says couple &#x27;never divested&#x27; from firms<br/></strong></a></div><p>Brian Keith Hosaka, executive director of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, announced the contractor couple&#x27;s decision after the two went to the ICI office in Taguig.</p><p>&quot;Upon the advise of counsel, they invoked their right against self-incrimation and manifested they will no longer cooperate with the investigation being conducted by the ICI,&quot; Hosaka told reporters.</p><p>According to Hosaka, the couple was advised by their legal counsel after learning that ICI member Rogelio “Babes” Singson, a former public works secretary, said in an interview by ABS-CBN News&#x27; Karen Davila that he does not see anyone qualified to possibly be a state witness.</p><p>“No way. They are not the least guilty. They are not. They are principal players,” Singson told Davila.</p><p>Singson said the Discayas benefited from the ghost projects that have prompted protests across the Philippines.</p><p>He said the couple should not get &quot;state protection to be able to get away from more cases and enjoy the benefits of their anomalous practices.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOSAKA: SINGSON&#x27;S POSITION NOT NECESSARILY THE ICI&#x27;S</strong></div><p>But Hosaka underscored that Singson’s statement is not the position of the ICI.  </p><p>“I saw the interview, that he qualified that as his own and not by the commission,” he said.</p><p>He said that with the Discayas&#x27; reaction to Singson&#x27;s remarks, the ICI adopted a resolution that all information and announcements of must come from him or from ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr.</p><p>Hosaka said the Discayas had hoped to get &quot;a favorable recommendation from the commission as state witness&quot; for cooperating with the panel. </p><p>He said the investigation will continue and will include the Discayas&#x27; previous testimony and those given by others.</p><p>&quot;Marami naman tayong mapapagkuhanan ng information,&quot; he said, adding the ICI will take all of these in consideration.</p><p>(We have a lot of sources of information anyway)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ILBO ISSUED AGAINST MORE PEOPLE</strong></div><p>The ICI also on Wednesday asked the Department of Justice to issue another Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order to monitor the following individuals:</p><p>1. Former Caloocan Rep. Mary Mitzi “Mitch” Cajayon-Uy</p><p>2. Arturo “Art” Atayde </p><p>3. Alvin Tan</p><p>4. Bong Marasigan</p><p>5. Elmer de Leon</p><p>6. Ed Fuentebella</p><p>7. Johnny Santos</p><p>8. John Mary Vianney Parago </p><p>9. Alvin Mariano </p><p>10. Ryan Uy</p><p>11. Rarryl Recio </p><p>12. Nestor Ventura </p><p>13. Benjie Tocol </p><p>14. District Engineer Aristotle Ramos </p><p>15. District Engineer Michael P. Rosaria</p><p>16. Engineer Angelita Garucha</p><div><br/></div><p>The DOJ immediately approved the request and issued the order</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OMBUDSMAN: DISCAYA DECISION &#x27;MISGUIDED&#x27;</strong></div><p>The Office of the Ombudsman, where the ICI submits its investigation reports, called the Discayas&#x27; decision &quot;misguided.&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/quezon-city-gov-t-terminates-four-projects-linked-to-discaya-firms-1654"><strong>Quezon City gov&#x27;t terminates four projects linked to Discaya firms<br/></strong></a></div><p>In a text message, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said: “Cooperation with the government is their only option right now. It will serve the pubic’s interest as well.” </p><p>Since 2016, construction firms owned by the couple have been awarded P77.9 billion worth of 1,214 flood control contracts by the Department of Public Works and Highways.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/protesters-hurl-mud-mark-magnanakaw-on-discaya-compound-in-pasig-1247"><strong>Protesters throw mud, write &#x27;magnanakaw&#x27; on Discaya compound in Pasig</strong></a></div><p>House Infrastructure Committee Co-Chairperson Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list meanwhile urged the ICI to make at least parts of its proceedings public.</p><p>&quot;’Yun pong 90% ill feelings, dapat tugunan po ng tama at maayos ng gobyernong ito (Government has to address 90% of ill feelings correctly and well). And syempre, one of the steps, and we have been stating this previously already, is for the ICI to make a determination on which parts of the proceeding can actually be made public, which part of the proceedings will remain in executive session,&quot; he said.</p><p>He said the ICI does not necessarily have to livestream its proceedings but could release affidavits submitted to it.</p>

<p>Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, whose firms are among the top 15 awarded flood-control projects, will no longer cooperate with the government investigation into corruption in projects that were substandard, unfinished, or did not exist.</p>

Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, whose firms are among the top 15 awarded flood-control projects, will no longer cooperate with the government investigation into corruption in projects that were substandard, unfinished, or did not exist.

Discayas back out from cooperating with ICI on flood-control project probe

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Discayas back out from cooperating with ICI on flood-control project probe

Johnson Manabat,

Kaxandra Salonga,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 15, 2025 05:44 PM PHT

|

Updated October 15, 2025 06:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Pacifico Discaya

Sarah Discaya

Independent Commission for Infrastructure

Office of the Ombudsman

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