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Discayas, DPWH engineers as state witnesses? No way, says Singson

Philippines | National

Discayas, DPWH engineers as state witnesses? No way, says Singson

By Joseph Pedrajas

Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya ll (left), Sarah Discaya (Senate Facebook)

Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya ll (left), Sarah Discaya (Senate Facebook)

Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) member Rogelio “Babes” Singson does not agree with turning implicated individuals in anomalous flood control projects into state witnesses. arguing they can’t be considered the least guilty.

"We have not even thought about it because personally it was a far shot... State witness? No way," Singson told veteran journalist Karen Davila in a video interview uploaded to her YouTube account.

Singson, who clarified it was his personal opinion and not of the three-member body, said contractor couple Curlee and Sara Discaya or Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez should not be given state protection.

"They're not least guilty. They are not. They are principal players," he said.

"Nakinabang na 'yang mga yan. Tama na. Nagalit na ang mga tao dahil sa kanila tapos bibigyan mo ng (They've already benefitted from the controversy. So let's stop it. The people are already mad because of them, and you're going to give them) state protection to be able to get away from further cases and enjoy from benefits of their anomalous practice, wag naman (let's not do that)?" he added.

The idea of making the Discayas, Alcantara, Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza--another DPWH assistant district engineer--state witnesses had been floated earlier in exchange of their spilling all the beans regarding the anomalous flood control projects.

Former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary and now Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said they were eyeing to make the said individuals "protected witnesses".

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