Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA — The contractors at the center of the Philippines’ widening flood-control scandal have already given testimony before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), their lawyer said Tuesday, Sept. 30, marking a new stage in an investigation that has shaken Congress and placed billions of pesos in public works spending under scrutiny.
Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and his wife, Sarah, appeared at a closed-door ICI hearing and disclosed details of alleged irregularities in flood-control contracts, according to their counsel, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III. The couple submitted ledgers and vouchers said to support their account and, he added, remain prepared to provide further information to the Department of Justice.
The ICI confirmed that the couple’s appearance coincided with its signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), a step officials described as critical for tracing assets and sharing evidence in corruption cases.
Witness protection and contested status
The Discayas are currently under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program, but Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remullahas emphasized they are not designated as state witnesses — a status that would shield them from prosecution. He has pressed the couple to substantiate their allegations with documentary evidence.
Remulla has also said the Discayas may have controlled more than ₱200 billion in government contracts over several years, underscoring the reach of their contracting business and the potential scale of the alleged anomalies.
Expanding money trail
Investigators have already frozen hundreds of bank accounts and real estate holdings tied to the couple and their associates. The AMLC–ICI partnership is expected to widen these measures, enabling investigators to move more quickly to preserve assets while audits and case-building continue.
Referral to the Ombudsman
A day earlier, the ICI made its first referral to the Office of the Ombudsman, recommending possible charges of graft, malversation and falsification stemming from a ₱289.5-million road-dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Among those flagged for review was former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who resigned his congressional seat the same day. Co has denied wrongdoing, and the Ombudsman has yet to decide whether to pursue formal charges.
Optics and public perception
Sarah Discaya’s finger-heart gesture outside the DOJ a few days ago went viral online, prompting her lawyer to clarify that it was misinterpreted and that the couple remains committed to cooperating with authorities.
What investigators will scrutinize
Officials will now assess whether the Discayas’ testimony withstands documentary cross-checking and whether it leads to additional asset freezes under the AMLC–ICI agreement. At the same time, the Ombudsman’s review of the Mindoro referral is seen as an early indicator of how aggressively prosecutors will pursue the cases.
