Marilyn Cahatol

Cezarah Discaya, owner of St. Gerrard Construction, attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry on alleged ghost projects and anomalous budget insertions in government agencies, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in Pasay City on September 1, 2025.    Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

PH SENATE

Lyza Aquino

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/175713675547320250902-cezarah-discaya-SPRIB.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Cezarah Discaya, owner of St. Gerrard Construction, attends the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry on alleged ghost projects and anomalous budget insertions in government agencies, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in Pasay City on September 1, 2025.<em> Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The House Committee on Infrastructure&#x27;s next hearing will focus on firms linked to contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discaya as lawmakers intensify their inquiry into alleged “ghost projects” and questionable contractors that have secured billions in government infrastructure funds.</p><p>Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, who chairs the committee, confirmed that the September 9 hearing will compel the attendance of Discaya, president of Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/protesters-hurl-mud-mark-magnanakaw-on-discaya-compound-in-pasig-1247"><strong>Protesters throw mud, write &#x27;magnanakaw&#x27; on Discaya compound in Pasig</strong></a></div><p>The House has issued subpoenas not only to Discaya but also to several other executives of firms flagged during initial hearings.</p><p>These include Miguel Juntura of St. Timothy Construction Corp.; Eumir Villanueva of Topnotch Catalyst Builders, Inc.; Mark Allan Arevalo of Wawao Builders Corp.; and Sally Santos of Syms Construction Trading.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/3/9-discaya-firms-lose-licenses-for-bidding-against-each-other-on-projects-1249"><strong>9 Discaya firms lose licenses for bidding against each other on projects</strong></a></div><p>Ridon said the executives did not appear in the previous hearing.</p><p>“I think Congress has every power to basically compel them to show up in the next hearing, kasi nga, this is an investigative body,&quot; he said.</p><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgKpr5v6McS7ica"></script><div><strong>CONTEMPT FOR ABSENTEES </strong></div><p>Ridon underscored that attendance at the hearing is not optional and that failure to show up could lead to contempt proceedings.</p><p>“If they appear, I don’t think there’s a reason to cite them in contempt.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/2/house-kicks-off-own-inquiry-into-flood-control-controversy-1047"><strong>House Infra Comm to subpoena 5 contractors who skipped flood control probe</strong></a></div><p>If the individuals again fail to appear, the committee may re-issue subpoenas or move to cite them in contempt—a move that could lead to their arrest and detention until they testify before Congress.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/2/house-infra-comm-members-ordered-to-disclose-conflict-of-interest-with-flood-projects-inquiry-1211"><strong>House Infra Comm members ordered to disclose ties to flood control projects</strong></a></div><div> </div><div><strong>GHOST PROJECTS AND FLOOD CONTROL </strong></div><p>The committee is expected to investigate the operation of Discaya-linked firms in charge of flood control projects and will also tackle the P96-million flood control project in Bulacan that inspection found only existed on paper.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/p96-m-ghost-flood-control-project-in-bulacan-a-bicam-insertion-lawmaker-reveals-1926"><strong>P96-M &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control project in Bulacan a &#x27;bicam insertion&#x27;, lawmaker reveals</strong></a></div><p>“Ito pong darating na pagdinig, naka-focus tayo sa Discaya-linked firms… lumaki sila [noong] PNoy administration, mas malaki sa  Duterte administration. Talagang tumodo sila noong 2016, that is on record. Paano nila nilaro? Sabay-sabay ba silang nagbi-bid?” he said.</p><p>(This next hearing will focus on the Discaya-linked firms. They grew during the Aquino administration, and grew even more during the Duterte administration. They really boomed in 2016, that is on record. How did they play that? Did their firms bid at the same time?)</p><p>Ridon revealed that bicameral conference committee members who handled the 2024 national budget will also be asked to appear at their succeeding hearings.</p><p>He also emphasized that not all flood control projects should be scrapped amid growing calls to suspend such allocations.</p><p>He said flood control projects are still important to the Philippines, which is among the countries most affected by the climate crisis and the extreme weather events it brings.</p><p>Instead of scrapping all of the funding,  Ridon urged a science-based approach anchored on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) risk mapping system. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/5/kontratista-kongresista-lawmakers-with-links-to-flood-control-projects-can-t-join-hearings-chel-1211"><strong>Kontratista-kongresista: Lawmakers with links to flood control projects can&#x27;t join hearings - Chel Diokno</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>QUESTIONABLE GROWTH OF FIRMS </strong></div><p>The committee is also scrutinizing how certain contractors rapidly rose to prominence. Ridon noted that while some companies have a long track record dating back to the Arroyo administration, others—such as Wawao Builders and MG Samidan—appear to have only recently gained prominence.</p><p>“Suspicious na nga na they are on top of the list,” Ridon said of Wawao Builders’ Mark Allan Arevalo, who previously invoked his right against self-incrimination during a Senate hearing.</p><p>(It is already suspicious that they are at the top of the list)</p><p>&quot;Pangalawa, suspicious na talaga din yung kanyang estima nung Senate, &#x27;no? Na tinanong lang siya, yes or no, are you involved in ghost project? Ang sabi niya, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/wawao-builders-exec-invokes-right-vs-self-incrimination-in-flood-control-probe-1848">I invoke my right against self-incrimination. </a>We would want to ask him the same question again,&quot; Ridon added.</p><p>(Secondly, his responses at the Senate are suspicious. When he was asked if he was involved in ghost projects, he invoked his right against self-incrimination)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/4/dpwh-permanently-blacklists-wawao-builders-0959"><strong>DPWH ‘permanently’ blacklists Wawao Builders</strong></a></div><p>He noted that contractors linked to the controversy were asked similar questions at the House inquiry and all denied any involvement.</p><p>&quot;Ano &#x27;yung relevance of that question? It basically binds them on that fact, on that admission.&quot;</p><p>The September 9 hearing will determine whether subpoenaed executives will comply with Congress’s summons or face contempt citations.</p><p>Ridon said the panel will decide on the spot how to deal with absentees.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/nbi-anti-graft-unit-to-look-into-flood-control-mess-1450"><strong>NBI anti-graft unit to look into flood control mess</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kWiX4WkCNZs?si=SNpLhZIlIZ1pnHMz" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The House Committee on Infrastructure will focus its next hearing on firms linked to businesswoman Sarah Discaya, as lawmakers intensify their inquiry into alleged “ghost projects” and questionable contractors that have secured billions in government infrastructure funds.</p>

The House Committee on Infrastructure will focus its next hearing on firms linked to businesswoman Sarah Discaya, as lawmakers intensify their inquiry into alleged “ghost projects” and questionable contractors that have secured billions in government infrastructure funds.

House Infrastructure Committee to zero in on Discaya-linked contractors in Sept. 9 probe, says Ridon

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House Infrastructure Committee to zero in on Discaya-linked contractors in Sept. 9 probe, says Ridon

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 06, 2025 02:56 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 06, 2025 07:01 PM PHT

Read More:

rep terry ridon

flood control project

infrastructure committee hearing

discaya

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