Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya, who mounted an unsuccessful bid for Pasig City mayor earier this year, in a photo from her public campaign materials. She surrendered to the NBI on December 9 as investigators look into an alleged flood control project anomaly in Davao Occidental. – Photo credit: Sarah Discaya’s public campaign page
Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya, a contractor accused in an alleged 96.5 million peso ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental, appeared at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday, December 9. Her lawyer, Cornelio Samaniego III, said she surrendered voluntarily as authorities prepare to serve an arrest warrant expected later this week after earlier remarks from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Samaniego added that Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, an executive linked to one of Discaya’s firms, also surrendered to local authorities earlier in the week and turned over her passport to show she does not intend to leave the country while the case is pending.
The NBI has not yet announced whether Discaya will be held once the warrant is issued or allowed supervised release. Officials said coordination continues with prosecutors and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Charges tied to alleged “ghost” project
The complaints involve a flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental that investigators report as paid for but not found during field verification. The Office of the Ombudsman has filed charges of malversation of public funds through falsification and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Discaya and several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The case is part of a broader review of flood control spending, which investigators say has revealed inconsistencies between documented accomplishments and on-site inspections in several districts. The inquiry remains ongoing, and no court has issued any final judgment in the cases under review.
Discaya previously appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to respond to questions about companies associated with her family. She has not entered a plea and remains presumed innocent unless a court decides otherwise.
Part of a wider anti-corruption effort
The Marcos administration has identified alleged flood control anomalies as a priority in its anti-corruption program. Marcos announced that the Court of Appeals issued a freeze order covering bank accounts, properties and aircraft linked to individuals under investigation.
Officials from the NBI, the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman said more complaints may follow as they continue to examine contractor portfolios, project records and procurement documents from additional regions. They noted that further individuals, including public officials and private contractors, may be included as evidence develops.
