Daven Tamayo

Marcos: Warrants of arrest issued vs Sarah Discaya, 9 others over Davao Occidental project

Article (news)

Lyza Aquino

Carmelle Lacuata

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (4th UPDATE) — The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday night served arrest warrants against businesswoman Sarah Discaya over a P96.5 million &quot;ghost&quot; flood project in Davao Occidental. Two arrest warrants were served against Discaya, according to the NBI. The warrant for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Philippine Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, carries a bail of P90,000, while the warrant for malversation is non-bailable, NBI spokesperson Atty. Palmer Mallari said.Discaya underwent booking procedures and medical check-up.After her arrest, Discaya was brought to the NBI Detention Facility in Muntinlupa. By Friday, she will be escorted to attend a hearing to be conducted by the Department of Justice on the complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).She is expected to be turned over to the court in Cebu City where she will face the charges against her, Mallari added.The NBI expects the DOJ hearing to conclude by late afternoon, with a flight to Cebu tentatively scheduled at around 4 p.m., subject to the completion of the proceedings.Mallari explained that the immediate return of the warrant to the issuing court is required under procedural rules, as this allows the court to schedule the arraignment.“Once the warrant is returned, the court will be scheduling the arraignment where the accused will be informed of the charges and enter her plea,” he said, adding that this gives the court jurisdiction over the accused and allows the case hearings to proceed.He also noted that it will be up to the court to decide whether Discaya will be detained in Cebu while awaiting trial or transferred to another detention facility.Mallari also confirmed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had been informed of the development. Discaya refused to give any statement before the media.The arrest warrant against Roma Rimando, the president of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, has also been served at the Pasig City Police Station Headquarters.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier announced that a local court issued warrants against Discaya and nine others over the allegedly spurious flood control project.In a video, Marcos said the accused are facing charges of graft and malversation, which are non-bailable cases.“Ang mga akusado ay nahaharap sa kasong graft at malversation, ito pong mga kasong ito hindi po bailable ito, hindi pwedeng bayaran ang kanyang…para sila’y malalabas sa kulungan. Kabilang na po rito si Sarah Discaya na sa kasalukuyan ay nasa kustodiya ng NBI,” he said.Marcos likewise said eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have expressed their intent to surrender.“Ito po ay patuloy naming gagawin at simula lang po ito at patuloy naming iimbestigahan at kakasuhan lahat po ng may kinalaman sa mga iskandalo na nakikita natin sa mga flood control project,” he added.The Office of the Ombudsman filed the criminal information at an RTC in Digos City on Dec. 5, 2025. Respondents allegedly conspired for the release of P96.5 million to construct a revetment project in Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, which “was never implemented.”Discaya last week <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/10/tv-patrol-exclusive-sarah-discaya-nilinaw-na-nagpasailalim-sa-nbi-custody-para-sa-kaligtasan-2047">surrendered</a> to the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), even without an arrest warrant from the court. She said the move was meant to ensure her safety.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/10/8-dpwh-officials-implicated-in-davao-occidental-ghost-project-surrender-to-nbi-1620">8 DPWH officials implicated in Davao Occidental ‘ghost’ project surrender to NBI</a></div><div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HgwZ7yNUVuI?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday night served arrest warrants against businesswoman Sarah Discaya over a P96.5 million "ghost" flood project in Davao Occidental.

The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday night served arrest warrants against businesswoman Sarah Discaya over a P96.5 million "ghost" flood project in Davao Occidental.

Sarah Discaya arrested over Davao Occidental 'ghost' flood control project

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Sarah Discaya arrested over Davao Occidental 'ghost' flood control project

Lyza Aquino,

Rose Carmelle Lacuata,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 18, 2025 08:17 PM PHT

|

Updated December 19, 2025 06:26 AM PHT

Read More:

Sarah Discaya

DPWH

flood control

graft

malversation

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