Jamaine Punzalan

-Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya II attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The hearing was attended by officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways led by Sec. Vince Dizon, along with representatives of contractors implicated in alleged ghost and substandard projects nationwide.

Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

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data-tweet-id="1968848576248705258"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br id="isPasted"/></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Justice has started its evaluation process for Curlee Discaya to be admitted to the Witness Protection Program of the government.</p><p>Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla personally met with Discaya who was escorted by the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms after he was cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Thursday.</p><p>Remulla earlier said Discaya and his wife Sarah would have to return any ill-gotten wealth they could have accumulated because of flood control projects before being given granted protection by the DOJ.</p><p>DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said Discaya should prove that he was facing security concerns and that his statements are factual and not selective.</p><p>“First of all we will check if the affidavits are truthful, genuine, authentic, complete, pag pumasok sa criteria na iyon, then we can now determine the risk they are facing, if they are being threatened, intimidated by people involved in the case,” Clavano said.</p><p>Sarah also arrived at the DOJ to apply for the WPP program.</p><p>Clavano said under the WPP, witnesses can be housed by the government or offered security in their own homes.</p><p>“Karamihan po sa mga witnesses natin nasa shelter po sila pero dahil may kakayahan naman po ang mga Discaya, they may opt for an out of shelter option,” Clavano said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/are-the-discayas-qualified-for-gov-t-witness-protection-program-2328">Are the Discayas qualified for gov&#x27;t witness protection program?</a></div><p>Clavano clarified that the Discayas were only being evaluated for the WPP and qualifying as state witnesses was another matter which would come if the cases have already reached the courts.</p><p>He noted that it was up to the DOJ and the newly created Independent Commission for Infrastructure to determine whether the Discayas will qualify as state witnesses.</p><p>“Dahil po meron na tayong Independent Commission for Infrastructure, all cases will have to be screened and vetted by them as well, we do not want to do a parallel effort especially when there is also the ICI, it is not meant to be a parallel task force or effort but we are more of a team,” Clavano said.</p><p>The Department of Finance has estimated that the Philippine economy lost up to P118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025 due to corruption in flood control projects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/ex-dpwh-engineer-admits-accepting-luxury-vehicles-amid-flood-control-scandal-1928">Ex-DPWH engineer admits accepting luxury vehicles amid flood control scandal</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/16/gov-t-freezes-bank-accounts-of-contractors-in-flood-control-controversy-1627">Gov&#x27;t freezes bank accounts of contractors tagged in flood control projects controversy</a></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday reiterated a pledge that friends and allies &quot;would not be spared&quot; in the investigation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/ici-inspects-flood-control-projects-in-quezon-city-2254">ICI inspects flood control projects in Quezon City</a></div><p>The infrastructure scandal has prompted a series of protests across the capital Manila in recent weeks, including one involving about 3,000 students at the University of the Philippines campus.</p><p>While most demonstrations so far have largely been small-scale, an annual protest tied to the 1972 declaration of martial law by Marcos&#x27;s father is expected to draw large crowds on Sunday.</p><div><a href="https://abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/15/marcos-on-anti-corruption-protests-if-i-wasn-t-president-i-might-be-out-in-the-streets-0950">‘Show that you are enraged’: Marcos backs mass protests vs flood control mess</a></div><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse<br/></strong></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Controversial construction firm owner Curlee Discaya showed up at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday to undergo evaluation for the Witness Protection Program.</p>

Controversial construction firm owner Curlee Discaya showed up at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday to undergo evaluation for the Witness Protection Program.

DOJ starts evaluating Curlee Discaya's witness protection bid

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DOJ starts evaluating Curlee Discaya's witness protection bid

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 19, 2025 09:45 AM PHT

|

Updated September 19, 2025 10:54 AM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

corruption

flood control

baha

Discaya

Curlee Discaya

witness protection

DOJ

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