Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

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/1768269707480G-ghmHibMAACZ8n_cropped_processed_by_imagy.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sarah Discaya sits inside the Branch 27 of the Regional Trial Court Lapu-Lapu City for her arraignment. Annie Perez</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATE) </strong>— Detained contractor Sarah Discaya and her eight other co-accused pleaded not guilty Tuesday for graft and malversation charges in relation to the P96.5 million &quot;ghost&quot; flood control project in Davao Occidental.</p><p>The arraignment took place at the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 of Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu.</p><p>The Bureau of Jail Management of Penology in Lapu-Lapu City earlier said it was enforcing strict protocols for Discaya’s court appearance. </p><p>“The security for the transit is tight, only the security team are authorized to be on the convoy,” Jail Chief Inspector Ivy Manigos, warden of the Lapu-Lapu City Jail female dorm told ABS-CBN News in a message. </p><p>“The PDL is already secured in the vehicle upon egress,“ the official added. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F717869534480404%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Discaya and eight other Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials were accused of conspiring for the release of P96.5 million to construct a revetment project in Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, which allegedly “was never implemented.”</p><p>Discaya was apprehended and detained in December. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/12/23/pnp-conducts-inspection-at-discaya-s-cell-rules-out-any-special-treatment-1404">PNP inspects Discaya&#x27;s cell, rules out any &#x27;special treatment&#x27;</a></div><p>Her case was earlier transferred to the Lapulapu City Regional Trial Court, based on a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/sc-designates-rtcs-as-special-courts-for-cases-on-infrastructure-projects-2009">Supreme Court guideline </a>that directs infrastructure corruption cases to be handled by the nearest anti-graft court. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/5/court-hears-discaya-others-motion-to-quash-arrest-warrant-1506">Lapulapu RTC hears Discaya, others&#x27; motion to quash arrest warrant</a></div><div><strong>—Reports from Annie Perez and Vilma Andales, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><em>Please refresh for update.</em></div><div><br/></div><p>.</p>

<p>Detained contractor Sarah Discaya and her eight other co-accused pleaded not guilty Tuesday for graft and malversation charges in relation to the P96.5 million "ghost" flood control project in Davao Occidental.</p>

Detained contractor Sarah Discaya and her eight other co-accused pleaded not guilty Tuesday for graft and malversation charges in relation to the P96.5 million "ghost" flood control project in Davao Occidental.

Sarah Discaya pleads 'not guilty' to graft, malversation in 'ghost project' case

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Sarah Discaya pleads 'not guilty' to graft, malversation in 'ghost project' case

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 13, 2026 09:53 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 13, 2026 11:29 AM PHT

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Sara Discaya

Cebu

DPWH

corruption

flood control

baha

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