Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768981709680photo-collage.png (5)_cropped_processed_by_imagy.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Risa Hontiveros and Curlee Discaya. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday blasted government contractor Curlee Discaya for stating that he felt &quot;robbed&quot; when asked to restitute or return money while in the process of applying to be admitted to the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/curlee-discaya-says-he-felt-robbed-when-asked-to-restitute-0705">Curlee Discaya says he felt &#x27;robbed&#x27; when asked to restitute</a></div><p>Discaya is linked to anomalous flood control projects and is currently detained in the Senate.</p><p>&quot;I know right? Kaya talagang ilan sa amin halos mahulog sa silya. I mean hello, sasabihin niya na ninakawan sila? Parang hinold up tayo tapos kailangan pa nating mag-sorry sa holdaper. I mean tigilan na ng mga Discaya yung ganyang pag-iiwas sa mga tanong or outright pag-deflect sa direksyon na gustong tahakin ng hearing,&quot; Hontiveros said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/-joy-maria-link-curlee-discaya-to-former-house-speaker-romualdez-1732">&#x27;Joy&#x27;, &#x27;Maria&#x27; link Curlee Discaya to company allegedly owned by Martin Romualdez</a></div><p>During the eighth hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday, Discaya was quoted as saying: “Hindi ko po masabi kung magkano po kasi para sa akin po, parang kami po ang nanakawan. Parang ibig sabihin, parang modern day na pagnanakaw. Ibig sabihin, ‘yung nakaw ba, siya pa ang magbibigay ng pera doon sa ninakawan niya? Parang gano’n po.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LEDGER</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Hontiveros also pressed Discaya to produce the ledger of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects he previously committed to the Senate.</p><p>Hontiveros cited a source who supposedly belied Discaya&#x27;s claim that he was prevented from accessing his office.</p><p>&quot;Tigilan na yung mga pagdadahilan na kesyo hindi daw sila pinapasok ng City Hall sa office nila, na by the way may credible source kami, na hindi yan totoong nangyari,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/17/curlee-discaya-to-stay-in-senate-custody-as-court-rejects-habeas-corpus-plea-1417">Curlee Discaya to stay in Senate custody as court rejects habeas corpus plea</a></div><p>Hontiveros said it is now up to Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Panfilo Lacson to secure the ledger.</p><p>&quot;Well, umaasa ako doon sa sinabi ni Chair Ping na gagawa siya ng paraan to solve this problem. Ibig sabihin, to procure the ledger na nung una umoo na siya sa utos ng Chair na isa-submit niya, si Curlee Discaya, biglang noong nakaraang hearing, ang dami na namang pagdadahilan ng responsibility to do that sa DPWH.&quot;</p><p>Hontiveros also believes Discaya is not showing good faith that would merit inclusion in the Witness Protection Program.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><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/3V2bhynUq-Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><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/ZwGjjTlyLzc?&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/pjsQ_lx0qxw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros blasted government contractor Curlee Discaya for stating that he felt "robbed" when asked to restitute or return money to the government. </p>

Sen. Risa Hontiveros blasted government contractor Curlee Discaya for stating that he felt "robbed" when asked to restitute or return money to the government.

Hontiveros on Curlee's 'ninakawan' remark: 'Halos mahulog kami sa silya'

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Hontiveros on Curlee's 'ninakawan' remark: 'Halos mahulog kami sa silya'

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 21, 2026 03:54 PM PHT

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Updated January 31, 2026 11:27 AM PHT

Read More:

Risa Hontiveros

Curlee Discaya

Senate

politics

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