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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Diokno dares fellow solons tagged by Discayas: Show your SALNs

Diokno dares fellow solons tagged by Discayas: Show your SALNs

Published Sep 8, 2025 02:41 pm

At A Glance

  • Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has challenged his fellow lawmakers tagged by the Discaya couple in the flood control project controversy to show their statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), as well as sign a waiver of bank secrecy for transparency.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno (Facebook)
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno (Facebook)
​Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has challenged his fellow lawmakers tagged by the Discaya couple in the flood control project controversy to show their statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), as well as sign a waiver of bank secrecy for transparency.
In a statement following revelations made by contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing--where they name dropped at least 17 former and incumbent House members two allegedly received kickbacks from flood control projects--Diokno made the dare as he emphasized that corruption tends to linger in government.
"Paulit-ulit itong nangyayari at umaabot hanggang sa mga pinakamataas na antas ng kapangyarihan (This is happening over and over again, involving even those in the highest seat)," Diokno said.
Among former and incumbent House members tagged in the controversy were: Roman Romulo of Pasig, Jojo Ang of USWAG Ilonggo, Patrick Michael Vargas of Quezon City 5th District, Arjo Atayde of Quezon City 1st District, Nicanor Briones of AGAP Party-list, Marcy Teodoro of Marikina 1st District, Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon, Benjamin Agarao Jr. of Laguna 4th District, Leody Tarriela of Occidental Mindoro, Reynante Arrogancia of Quezon 3rd District, Dean Asistio of Caloocan 3rd District, Marivic Co-Pilar of Quezon City 6th District, Rida Robes of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Florencio Noel of An Waray Party-list, Marvin Rillo of Quezon City 4th District, Teodorico Haresco of Aklan 2nd District and Antonieta Eudela of Zamboanga Sibugay 2nd District.
Many of these lawmakers already denied the Discayas' allegations in separate statements they issued right after they were tagged in the hearing.
Diokno also called on other contractors and other government officials, who have knowledge about corruption in the flood control projects, to expose whatever they know about the irregularities.
"Dapat managot ang lahat ng nasa likod nito, kasama ang kanilang mga kasabwat. Hindi tayo papayag na may makakalusot (All the people behind this, as well as their accomplices, must be held accountable. We will not allow anyone to get away with it)," he said.
Akbayan Party-list also believed that the revelations made by the Discayas during the Senate hearing, as well as those by Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco who tagged Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co in the same controversy, were "only the tip of the iceberg."
"The names dropped so far merely scratch the surface of the trillion-peso flood control scam. Remember, the Discayas became the top contractors under the Duterte administration. The Filipino people demand that the entire rotten network of officials and contractors be exposed, no one should be spared," it said.
The party-list, which secured the highest number of votes during the 2025 mid-term elections, then challenged all implicated public officials "to come clean and explain their roles in this grand theft of taxpayers’ money".
"To remain silent is to admit guilt and betray the people’s trust. Likewise, we call on other contractors: expose their patrons. Who else in power profited from these ghost projects?" it asked.
​T​he group says the controversy is ​"not the handiwork of one family or a few greedy businessmen​," but "a syndicated network of crime that cuts across administrations and reaches the highest levels of government".
​"We cannot allow selective truth-telling to shield powerful allies while sacrificing a few expendables​," it said.
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