Jamaine Punzalan

Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II leaves the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) head office in Taguig City on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, to attend a hearing on alleged irregularities in flood control and infrastructure projects across the country. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Izzy Lee

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/176059634836520251015-ici-hearing-discaya-MT10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II leaves the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) head office in Taguig City on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, to attend a hearing on alleged irregularities in flood control and infrastructure projects across the country. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span>   </div><p>MANILA — Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon on Thursday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not received any indication that Pacifico and Sarah Discaya would stop coordinating with the agency, even after the couple said they would no longer cooperate with the Independent Commission of Investigation (ICI).</p><p>&quot;Nabigla kami pero as far as the department is concerned, wala pa naman pong pahiwatig na sila ay hindi magpapatuloy na makipag-usap samin,&quot; Fadullon said.</p><p>He added that the couple were not in a position to make demands in their application for witness protection.</p><p>&quot;They are applying for supposedly witness protection coverage and we have our procedures to determine whether or not they will be qualified or not. It is not for anybody to dictate to us how we will go about the evaluation. It is not for anybody to impose any conditions,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/15/discayas-back-out-from-cooperating-with-ici-on-flood-control-project-probe-1744">Discayas back out from cooperating with ICI on flood-control project probe</a></div><p>Fadullon said the protection extended to the Discayas would continue even if they no longer coordinated with the ICI.</p><p>&quot;Remember, the protection was provided to them as a consequence of the ongoing legislative sa Senate and sa House may panganib daw sa buhay nila, so kailangan bigyan mo ng proteksyon dahil kung ano man mangyari sa mga tao na &#x27;yan pananagutan pa rin yan ng pamahalaan yan eh,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;So it&#x27;s incumbent upon us to provide that protection but definitely, that protection cannot be equated with immunity,&quot; he added.</p><p>Fadullon  said the DOJ would still assess the value of the Discayas’ statements and whether these were sufficiently supported by evidence.</p><p>&quot;We will have to determine if the statement is sapat na. Is it enough that you mentioned names? Is it enough that you mentioned amounts of money given to certain people? You have to go into the details,&quot; he said.</p><p>He cautioned that applying for witness protection did not automatically mean immunity from prosecution.</p><p>&quot;Kung ang iniisip kasi ng mga tao is blanket immunity, right now it could be quite difficult because we are talking about a span of so many years, so many projects. Not in all cases will they be involved. Not in all cases will they be able to testify but they can be implicated,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/16/dpwh-chief-dizon-on-discayas-backpedaling-pasensiyahan-tayo-1004">DPWH chief Dizon on Discayas&#x27; backpedaling: &#x27;Pasensiyahan tayo&#x27;</a></div><p>Fadullon said that the DOJ needed time to review the Discayas’ testimonies thoroughly before any decision could be made.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan bigyan din nila kami ng panahon para suriin yung kanilang mga salaysay nang sa gayon malaman natin kung may basehan para i-discharge, kasi para i-discharge ka ano bang kahulugan niyan? Wala kang criminal liability, isang bagay na napakalaki kasi siyempre yung pagkakakulong mawawala yan,&quot; he said.</p><p>He clarified that the ongoing investigation would continue regardless of any witness protection applications.</p><p>&quot;We are also looking for evidence that there is no need for a state witness. Yung state witness kasi kakailanganin mo yan kung talagang yung kaso mo ay nanganganib na hindi magtuloy dahil sa kakulangan ng ebidensya,&quot; he said.</p><p>Fadullon appealed to other potential witnesses who applied for protection but remained hesitant to fully cooperate.</p><p>&quot;Kung maaari lang po sana pakiusap ko wag na po tayong mag alinlangan sabihin na po natin ang lahat dahil kung halimbawang sabihin nila ang lahat at maging testigo, makakapaghanda po tayong maigi pagdating sa husgado pero kung magtatago po sila, kung mamimili lang sila, mas maiging di na lang sila magsalita,&quot; he said.</p><div><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YlC329SPP3Y" title="Sarah at Curlee Discaya ayaw nang makipagtulungan sa ICI. Ito raw ang dahilan | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ICI ‘HAS NO TEETH’   </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando said the Discayas’ move to back out from cooperating with the ICI showed the body had “no teeth.”</p><p>The Discayas, whose firms are among the top 15 awarded flood-control projects, had invoked their right against self-incrimination and manifested that they would no longer cooperate with the ICI investigation into corruption in alleged substandard and ghost projects.</p><p>San Fernando said this could encourage others summoned by the ICI to do the same.</p><p>“Walang pangil, walang kapangyarihan ‚yung ICI. Nagiging isang malaking PR na lang yan. At hindi natin masisisi yung mga tao kung tinitignan yan na parang nag-whitewash na lang. O parang may pino-proteksyunan na kaalyado ng administrasyon... Sa magnitude ng public resources involved, ba&#x27;t wala pa napapakulong hanggang ngayon?“ San Fernando said.</p><p>“Nagse-send yan ng mensahe doon sa mga sangkot dito sa anomalous and ghost flood control projects na kahit ipatawag sila ng ICI, pwede naman silang tumanggi. So wala nang kapangyarihan, inutil ang ICI… parang walang kwenta, walang silbi na itong ICI. Hangga’t walang nakukulong, hangga’t walang napapanagot, even contempt powers… lokohan na lang ‘yan,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/16/ici-chair-reyes-justice-is-not-enough-we-need-restitution-1300">ICI chair Reyes: ‘Justice is not enough; we need restitution’</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>SPECIAL SESSION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Caloocan City Second District Rep. Edgar Erice urged the President to call for a special session of Congress to pass legislation granting full investigative powers to the ICI, including the power to cite in contempt those who refuse to testify or submit documents.</p><p>“Without a law, the commission is powerless and could become inutile. This refusal to cooperate will encourage others to do the same, undermining the credibility of the investigation and delaying justice in what may be the biggest public fund heist in Philippine history,” Erice warned.</p><p>“Witnesses and whistleblowers will lose confidence if the administration hesitates. The President must act decisively to prove his sincerity in bringing the perpetrators of this plunder to justice,” he added.</p><p>San Fernando expressed support for Erice’s call.</p><p>“We support that. Kabilang din po ako sa naghahain ng House Bill na nagbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa Commission, contempt, and subpoena powers,” he said.</p><div><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PFy2E3sW6Q" title="Taguan sa ICI: Pag-iwas ni Discaya sa media nauwi sa habulan | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon on Thursday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not received any indication that Pacifico and Sarah Discaya would stop coordinating with the agency, even after the couple said they would no longer cooperate with the Independent Commission of Investigation. </p>

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon on Thursday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not received any indication that Pacifico and Sarah Discaya would stop coordinating with the agency, even after the couple said they would no longer cooperate with the Independent Commission of Investigation.

Fadullon: No signs Discayas will stop coordinating with DOJ despite cutting ties with ICI

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Fadullon: No signs Discayas will stop coordinating with DOJ despite cutting ties with ICI

Izzy Lee,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 16, 2025 02:37 PM PHT

Read More:

Discaya

DOJ

ICI

corruption

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