Jamaine Punzalan

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><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2X2Ss8JTeDc" title="FULL: Discayas name lawmakers, DPWH officials in anomalous flood control projects" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div>MANILA (UPDATE) — Government contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya on Monday alleged that corrupt officials had forced them to join anomalous biddings and hand over money in exchange for securing projects. Sarah Discaya said that their construction firm St. Gerrard Construction initially won projects under fair bidding processes, prompting the couple to establish more companies.&quot;Noong nagsimulang makilala ang St. Gerrard Construction...unti-unti nang nagsilapitan ang mga district engineers at mga regional directors ng DPWH at mga chiefs of staff ng mga mambabatas na nag-aalok ng mga proyekto na sinasabi nilang pondo ng mambabatas,&quot; she told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.She said they tried reporting these incidents to the Department of Public Works and Highways, to no avail.  &quot;Subalit hindi sila natitinag sa mga ito. Sabi nila, dapat tanggapin namin ang realidad na dapat kaming magbayad sa mga mababatas kung gusto po naming magpatuloy na magkaroon project sa gobyerno. Kung hindi, binabala nila na matatanggal sa listahan ang kumpanya namin at hindi na makakakuha ng kahit anong proyekto,&quot; Sarah Discaya said.&quot;Hindi namin ginusto kailanman na mapasama sa ganitong sistema, pero kailangan namin magpatuloy para sa pamilya at mga empleyado namin. Dahil sa aming paglaban sa mga tiwaling bidding, maraming beses na naming naranasan na ma-disqualify ng bids and awards committee ng DPWH na hawak ng mga mambabatas na nagpondo sa proyekto,&quot; she said. &quot;Dahil naiipit na ang aming negosyo, lumulubog na kami sa lumalaking utang ng kumpanya at peligro sa buhay ng aming pamilya, napilitan kaming makisama sa kalakaran kahit labag sa aming kalooban,&quot; she added.Curlee added that had they refused to join the scheme, their projects would have been terminated or could have faced right-of-way problems. &quot;Paulit-ulit kaming ginamit ng mga nasa pwesto sa sistemang ito. Wala kaming magawa dahil kung hindi kami makikisama, gagawan nila ng problema ang project na na-award sa amin,&quot; Curlee said.&quot;Matapos naming manalo sa bidding, may mga opisyal ng DPWH ang lumalapit sa amin para humingi at kumuha ng bahagi nila sa proyekto. Ang hinihingi nilang porsyente ay hindi bababa sa 10 porsyento at umaabot pa sa 25 percent, na naging kondisyon upang hindi maipit ang implementasyon ng kontrata,&quot; he said.He tagged the following officials and lawmakers in the alleged scheme. • Terrence Calatrava, former Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas of the Philippines• Roman Romulo • Jojo Ang  • Patrick Michael Vargas  • Arjo Atayde • Nicanor Briones • Marcelino Teodoro • Florida Robes• Eleandro Jesus Madrona• Benjamin Agarao Jr.• Florencio Gabriel Noel• Leody &quot;Odie&quot; Tarriela • Marvin Rillo• Reynante Arrogancia• Teodoro Haresco• Antonieta Eudela• Dean Asistio• Marivic Co PilarCurlee said the following alleged representatives of politicians also met with them to receive kickbacks for projects. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17573034382211757303436921.png" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div>&quot;Karamihan sa mga kawani ng DPWH na nabanggit sa itaas ay paulit-ulit na binabanggit ang delivery ng pera ay para kay Zaldy Co, na dapat ay at least 25 percent,&quot; Curlee alleged. &quot;Si Cong. Marvin Rillo naman ay ilang beses binabanggit ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez bilang kanyang malapit na kaibigan. Sinasabi pa ni Cong. Rillo na lahat ng kanyang request para sa pondo ay galing pa mismo sa unprogrammed funds at insertions na inaaprubahan ni Speaker,&quot; he said.He alleged that other officials personally received their share for projects:<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175730430760620280908 (10).jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>ABS-CBN News is reaching out to the officials mentioned by the Discayas in the hearing.Romualdez and several officials have <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">denied the accusations.</a><div> </div><div>&#x27;STATE WITNESS&#x27;</div><div> </div>The Discayas said they are offering to be state witnesses in order to expose the collusion between lawmakers, government agencies, and personnel in the anomaly.&quot;Handa kaming tumestigo na walang pilit at kusang loob bilang state witnes at sabihin ang lahat ng nangyayaring katiwalian ng Kamara, DPWH, at iba pang mga kawani ng gobyerno para gawin ang tama,&quot; Curlee said.The couple appealed to Marcoleta and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in securing their family.Marcoleta offered the Discayas protection of the Senate, subject to the approval of Senate President Francis Escudero.Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, who is in Cambodia with Marcos for a state visit, urged the Discayas to substantiate their claims against politicians.Castro said the Palace was open to providing protection for the Discayas. — With reports from RG Cruz and Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

Government contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya on Monday alleged that corruption had forced them to join anomalous project biddings.

Government contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya on Monday alleged that corruption had forced them to join anomalous project biddings.

Discaya couple says lawmakers, DPWH execs 'used' them in flood control anomalies

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Discaya couple says lawmakers, DPWH execs 'used' them in flood control anomalies

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News,

Published September 08, 2025 11:14 AM PHT

|

Updated September 08, 2025 02:07 PM PHT

Read More:

corruption

flood

flood control

baha

DPWH

Discaya

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