Rowegie Abanto

Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya attend a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control projects on September 8, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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)

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/175748513069820250908-senate-blue-ribbon-discayas-15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya attend a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control projects on September 8, 2025. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — In every corruption scandal in the Philippines, nominating a state witness from among the accused is a common practice to hasten case buildup. </div><p>Just around September last year, discussions of dismissed Bamban mayor <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/8/alice-guo-as-state-witness-doj-official-weighs-in-1007">Alice Guo</a> possibly becoming a state witness reemerged. Guo — who a court ruled <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/29/court-alice-guo-is-chinese-term-as-bamban-mayor-is-void-1114">is Chinese</a> — was accused of graft, money laundering, and human trafficking charges linked to gambling operations in her town.</p><p>This year, the country faced another controversy: alleged corruption involving <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/15-contractors-cornered-p100-b-worth-of-flood-control-projects-since-2022-marcos-1053">billions of pesos in flood control</a> programs.</p><p>At the center of the flood control anomalies are government contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya, who publicly said they wanted to become state witnesses to expose the supposed collusion between politicians and government officials in an alleged pay-off scheme.</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">Discaya couple says lawmakers, DPWH execs &#x27;used&#x27; them in flood control anomalies</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/ex-dpwh-engineer-tags-estrada-villanueva-in-alleged-flood-control-anomalies-1055">Ex-DPWH engineer tags Estrada, Villanueva in flood control anomalies; senators deny allegations</a></div><p>Some lawmakers also <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/engineer-urged-to-become-state-witness-to-expose-corruption-in-dpwh-system-1504">floated the idea of turning some public works engineers</a> into state witnesses.</p><p>But who can really become a state witness?</p><p>According to the Witness Protection, Security, and Benefit Act or Republic Act No. 6981, an accused who wants to become a state witness should not appear to be the most guilty, and there should be an &quot;absolute necessity&quot; for their testimony.</p><p>It is important to note that becoming a state witness in the Philippines provides an accused some form of immunity from criminal prosecution.</p><p>Other requirements that need to be fulfilled to become a state witness under the law include the following. </p><ul><li>There must be no other direct evidence available for the proper prosecution of the offense committed. </li><li>The accused must not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.</li><li>The offense in which their testimony will be used is a &quot;grave felony.&quot;</li></ul><div><br/></div><div><strong>RETURN THE MONEY FIRST</strong><strong><br/></strong></div><p>On Monday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Discaya couple should return the money they allegedly obtained from anomalous projects before they could be placed under the state witness program.</p><p>&quot;Ang first principle na gagamitin natin dito, kung meron silang nakuhang perang hindi dapat, isauli nila sa republika. Iyon naman ang first condition natin lagi. You don’t walk off laughing at our system because you enriched yourself and got away with the crime. Hindi,&quot; Remulla said.</p><p>&quot;You give it back to the state where it rightfully belongs before you can even be considered for immunity. ‘Yon talaga ang Whistleblower Act eh. You have to work on those premises,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/vico-sotto-says-discayas-sought-meeting-with-him-amid-state-witness-angle-2358">Vico Sotto says Discayas sought meeting with him amid state witness angle</a></div><p>Senate Presidente Vicente Sotto III later agreed with Remulla&#x27;s position.</p><p>&quot;Under Republic Act 6981, individuals may enter the Witness Protection Program provided they are not the most guilty party in a case. Remulla stressed that restitution is a non-negotiable requirement,&quot; he said.</p><p>Sotto also said that he is awaiting the recommendation of new Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on the move of committee precedessor Rodante Marcoleta to endorse the Discayas to the state witness protection program.</p><p>&quot;Ganun yung sulat eh. Endorsed by Senator Marcoleta. But as I read it, sabi ko nga, kompleto na ba? Yung bang tell all ba yun pagiging state witness nila? O tell half?&quot; said Sotto. &quot;Tignan  muna natin. That&#x27;s why there&#x27;s a new chairman of Blue Ribbon. Though, I will consult him first.&quot;</p><p>On Monday, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto warned lawmakers and the public that the Discayas were &quot;capable of lying&quot; and that they were <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/-wag-tayong-magpauto-vico-sotto-hits-discaya-couple-s-inconsistencies-paawa-effect-1521?fbclid=IwY2xjawMro8lleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKYnVaeHEwZkJoUTNZMkZ4AR5a_FiB4FZjx6CYsTnnKkYwt4i67u76K3fbiSPjejStBZZq1q-BOZ5HDkh91Q_aem_3bSwao85VzmJbWa78ExN8g">&quot;clearly angling&quot; to become state witnesses to evade jail time</a>.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Michael Delizo and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </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/7i87eZyfFX8?&amp;t=1s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/MgzySPgh7j0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Discaya couple has offered to become state witnesses in the flood control controversy. Some lawmakers also floated the idea of turning DPWH engineers into state witnesses. But who can really become one?</p>

The Discaya couple has offered to become state witnesses in the flood control controversy. Some lawmakers also floated the idea of turning DPWH engineers into state witnesses. But who can really become one?

Flood control scandal: Who can be a state witness?

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Flood control scandal: Who can be a state witness?

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 10, 2025 02:34 PM PHT

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Updated September 10, 2025 06:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Sarah Discaya

Curlee Discaya

state witness

Vico Sotto

DOJ

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