Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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)

Discayas

Jessie Cruzat

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/175749108048420250908-senate-blue-ribbon-discayas-16.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><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>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently evaluating the offer of controversial government contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya to become state witnesses in the alleged corruption surrounding flood control projects in the country. </div><p>The couple made the offer during their appearance before a Senate inquiry earlier this week. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/disacayas-says-corrupt-officials-used-them-in-anomalous-bidding-1114">READ: Discaya couple says lawmakers, DPWH execs &#x27;used&#x27; them in flood control anomalies</a></div><p>DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano confirmed on Wednesday that discussions are ongoing regarding the potential legal implications and conditions of their cooperation.</p><p>&quot;That is a discussion that&#x27;s being held here in the Department of Justice. On the one hand, pwede po sila maging state witness kung hindi nga sila most guilty. At yung testimony nila is absolutely necessary for the case to stand in court,&quot; Clavano said.</p><p>However, the DOJ is cautious, given the couple&#x27;s apparent deep involvement in the scheme.</p><p>&quot;Kaso nga lang po, ang lumalabas po sa mga statements nila ay mukhang kakuntsaba na nila from the very start yong mga contractor, pati yung mga ibang politicians, at before po yan sa implementation ng project,&quot; he added.</p><p>Clavano explained that if the Discayas are found to be co-conspirators, they may be deemed just as culpable as others involved in the alleged conspiracy.</p><p>&quot;The guilt of one is the guilt of all. Meaning to say po, kung yung kasama nila sa conspiracy ay most guilty, sila din po ay pwedeng ituring na most guilty,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/lawmakers-deny-discaya-corruption-claims-in-flood-control-mess-1217">READ: Romualdez, lawmakers deny &#x27;false, malicious&#x27; Discaya corruption claims</a></div><p>As of now, the DOJ has yet to launch a formal investigation into the matter, relying primarily on the couple&#x27;s statements in the ongoing congressional inquiries.</p><p>&quot;So, that is still yet to be seen. We are still, wala pa namang formal investigation, diba? Ang lumalabas lang sa mga statements nila sa Congress at Senate, yun. But again, that is subject to one very big condition already imposed by the Secretary, which is, kailangan muna nila isauli yung pera para masimulan po natin yung usapang state witness,&quot; said Clavano.</p><p>Clavano emphasized that returning the illegally obtained funds is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any consideration of state witness status.</p><p>&quot;No, not at all. It is a precondition to even consider them. Kasi po, ang sinasabi po ni Secretary, hindi naman po natin pwedeng hayaan sila na... You know, to get a good laugh out of this na maging state with this sila and still may unjust enrichment on their part,&quot; he explained.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/discayas-must-return-money-first-before-qualifying-as-state-witnesses-doj-1528">READ: Discayas must return &#x27;stolen&#x27; money first before qualifying as state witnesses -- DOJ</a></div><p>The justice department spokesperson added that the full extent of the couple&#x27;s illicit gains will be determined through a broader government effort, including a forthcoming Truth Commission to be established by the office of the President. </p><p>&quot;So, that will also be verified by the BIR and all those agencies that may have documents regarding their transactions,&quot; Clavano said.</p><p>The Discayas on Monday alleged that corrupt officials had forced them to join anomalous biddings and hand over money in exchange for securing projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9M9djtq9-JE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div></div>

<p>DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said the offer of the Discaya couple to be state witnesses in the flood control mess is being discussed by the agency.</p>

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said the offer of the Discaya couple to be state witnesses in the flood control mess is being discussed by the agency.

'Mukhang kakuntsaba': DOJ weighs possibility of Discayas as state witnesses

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'Mukhang kakuntsaba': DOJ weighs possibility of Discayas as state witnesses

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 10, 2025 04:06 PM PHT

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Updated September 10, 2025 09:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Discayas

Sarah Discaya

Curlee Discaya

DPWH

flood control

state witness

politics

corruption

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