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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider 'Deserved!': Akbayan on public bashing vs corrupt contractors, politicians

'Deserved!': Akbayan on public bashing vs corrupt contractors, politicians

Published Aug 29, 2025 12:54 pm  |  Updated Aug 29, 2025 01:35 pm
The Akbayan Partylist, led by Rep. Perci Cendaña, staged a protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City on Friday, Aug. 29, to condemn contractors Curlee and Sara Discaya over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.
Members of the Akbayan Partylist protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City to condemn its owners, the Discayas, over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. (Photos courtesy of Akbayan Partylist)
Members of the Akbayan Partylist protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City to condemn its owners, the Discayas, over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. (Photos courtesy of Akbayan Partylist)
Members of the Akbayan Partylist protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City to condemn its owners, the Discayas, over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. (Photos courtesy of Akbayan Partylist)
Members of the Akbayan Partylist protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City to condemn its owners, the Discayas, over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. (Photos courtesy of Akbayan Partylist)
Members of the Akbayan Partylist protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City to condemn its owners, the Discayas, over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. (Photos courtesy of Akbayan Partylist)
Members of the Akbayan Partylist protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City to condemn its owners, the Discayas, over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. (Photos courtesy of Akbayan Partylist)
Members of the Akbayan Partylist protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City to condemn its owners, the Discayas, over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. (Photos courtesy of Akbayan Partylist)
Members of the Akbayan Partylist protest outside St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City to condemn its owners, the Discayas, over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. (Photos courtesy of Akbayan Partylist)
“Ang masasabi ko po dito sa mga nangyayari ngayon na matinding pagkondena, matinding bashing, matinding paniningil ng ating pong mga kababayan sa mga kontratista na kurap, sa mga public officials na kurap, I have 1 word for you: Deserved! (What I can say about what is happening now, the strong condemnation, the intense bashing, and the people’s demands for accountability from corrupt contractors and corrupt public officials, I have one word for you: Deserved!),” Cendaña said.
“Deserve po ninyo ang ganitong paniningil ng taumbayan sapagkat ang ninakawan ay ang mahihirap nating kababayan (You deserve this condemnation from the people because it is the poor who have been robbed),” he added.
Akbayan Partylist said that St. Gerrard Construction is among the top 15 contractors that received about 20 percent of the flood control budget, as disclosed by President Marcos during a press conference last Aug. 11.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/11/marcos-bares-disturbing-findings-in-flood-control-mess-20-of-projects-nationwide-awarded-to-only-15-contractors
He added that some projects from the group of 15 contractors were substandard or even nonexistent. St. Gerrard Construction is owned by Sara Discaya, who has recently drawn public attention due to their lavish lifestyle brought about by media interviews that described their rags-to-riches story as "inspiring."
“The company has become a symbol of how people’s taxes are squandered on luxury instead of public service,” it stated.
Cendaña criticized public works contractors, including the Discayas, for allegedly misappropriating public funds.
“But more than condemnation—dapat kasuhan at ikulong ang mga nangungulimbat ng buwis ng mamamayan (Those who steal taxpayers’ money should be punished),” he stressed.
The lawmaker also urged bringing back the policy of publishing SALNs of public officials to help prevent corruption.
Student Council Alliance of the Philippines Secretary General Matthew Silverio underscored the youth’s outrage over the scandal, stressing that public money wasted on ghost projects could have transformed lives.
“Habang milyon-milyon ang nalulunod sa baha at walang maayos na paaralan, may mga kontratista namang nalulunod sa luho (While millions are affected by floods and schools remain inadequate, some contractors are living in luxury),” Silverio said.
He added that the youth will not remain silent in the face of corruption.
“The money that was stolen could have gone to building classrooms, the hiring more teachers, and securing a better future for the next generation. Hindi lang ito usapin ng flood control projects na hindi makita—ito ay usapin ng kinabukasan ng kabataan at ng bayan (This is not just a matter of non-existent flood control projects, it is a matter of the future of the youth and the nation),” he added.

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metro news Akbayan Party-list Flood control corruption pasig protests
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