Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Senate president pro tempore and chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, leads questioning during the inquiry on alleged flood-control contract irregularities. (Senate PRIB photo)
Senate hearings on flood-control contracts intensify as Ping Lacson cites ₱207-B DPWH awards to Discaya firms. The family denies wrongdoing, licenses were revoked, contempt citations issued, and the couple has sought witness protection.
MANILA — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that nine companies owned or linked to the Discaya family received ₱207.25 billion (about US$3.6 billion) in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contract awards from 2016 to 2025, citing agency records presented to the panel. The senator raised concerns over repeated wins in flood-control and other infrastructure projects and called for tighter safeguards in public works procurement.
The Discayas rejected suggestions of impropriety and said all projects were obtained and implemented in accordance with government rules. They also emphasized that totals cited in hearings reflect awarded project values, not amounts paid out or profits earned.
Lacson cites staggering figures in senate probe
During questioning of contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II, Lacson said DPWH data showed a cumulative ₱207.25 billion (US$3.6 billion) awarded to nine Discaya-owned or affiliated firms over nine years. He described the concentration of projects under a single family network as unusual and urged a closer review of bidding practices.
Because the underlying DPWH dataset has not been released publicly, the total remains attributed to Lacson’s citation of DPWH records during the hearing. The figure refers to awards, not disbursements or profits.
Discayas push back, insist compliance
Appearing at the same hearing, Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II denied wrongdoing. They maintained that contracts were obtained legally, with compliance to government procurement rules.
“We complied with all government procurement requirements and delivered projects as mandated,” Sarah Discaya said. “These allegations of collusion and irregularity are unfair and damaging.”
The Discayas emphasized that awards should not be equated with income, since contract values span multiple years and remain subject to DPWH oversight and audit.
Regulator strips licenses of nine firms
On September 1, 2025, the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) revoked the licenses of nine Discaya-linked companies through Board Resolution No. 075. The board cited violations that included “multiple participation” in biddings by commonly controlled entities and conduct “inimical to public interest.”
The revocation bars the firms from bidding on new public works until the issues are resolved. PCAB stressed that this was an administrative and regulatory sanction, not a judicial ruling.
Watchdogs confirm billions in flood-control deals
Independent monitoring supports part of Lacson’s warning. The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) reported that from 2022 to 2025, Discaya-owned and allied firms secured around ₱31 billion (US$540 million) in flood-control contracts, either individually or through joint ventures. The scale of these awards, watchdogs said, highlights the extent of the family’s footprint in a sector that has seen surging budgets in recent years.
Contempt citations deepen probe
The inquiry has taken sharper turns as witnesses faced penalties for inconsistent testimony. On September 18, 2025, the Blue Ribbon Committee cited Curlee Discaya in contempt after he gave conflicting explanations for his wife Sarah’s absence from the hearing. Senators Raffy and Erwin Tulfo pressed the contradictions, and Committee Chair Lacson upheld the contempt citation.
Former DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara was also cited in contempt after denying knowledge of “ghost projects” despite evidence presented to the committee. Lacson said Alcantara’s denials were contradicted by official records.
Discayas seek witness protection
A day later, on September 19, 2025, the Discaya couple went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to explore entry into the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya arrived at the DOJ in Manila in the morning, while her husband was brought in by a Senate vehicle following his contempt citation. The couple submitted affidavits for evaluation to determine if their testimonies meet the standards for WPP admission.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the proceedings were confidential but stressed that any state witness must tell the whole truth and, ultimately, there should be restitution of amounts involved. DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano IV clarified that filing affidavits was only “part of procedure” and did not guarantee admission into the program.
Remulla had earlier said the government was not inclined to admit the couple as state witnesses unless their testimonies were complete and truthful.
Stakes for public funds
Flood-control spending has become one of the DPWH’s largest budget lines, underscoring the country’s vulnerability to typhoons and flooding. Allegations that a small group of firms captured a disproportionate share of these funds raise questions about fair competition, project quality, and the effective use of public money.
Taken together, the record shows: Lacson’s claim that nine Discaya-linked companies received ₱207.25 billion (US$3.6 billion) in awards from 2016 to 2025; the Discayas’ position that they committed no wrongdoing and that all contracts followed procurement rules; verified independent data confirming at least ₱31 billion (US$540 million) in flood-control contracts to their firms between 2022 and 2025; the regulatory status that PCAB revoked the licenses of nine Discaya companies on September 1, 2025, barring them from new work; the legal status that no court has established liability against the family or their firms; and the latest development that the couple has applied for protection under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program while Senate hearings continue.
