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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Uswag Ilonggo party-list congressman denies kickback allegations from Discayas

Uswag Ilonggo party-list congressman denies kickback allegations from Discayas

Published Sep 9, 2025 08:45 am
ANG
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ILOILO CITY – Rep. James “Jojo” Ang Jr. of Uswag Ilonggo party-list has denied kickback allegations by controversial contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and his wife Sarah.
“I strongly and categorically deny the baseless accusations against me of alleged corrupt practices and illegal acts,” said Ang in a statement.
Pacifico told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee during the Sept. 8 hearing that Ang is among the contractors who asked for a 10 to 15 percent kickback in government infrastructure projects.
“I am totally surprised that my name has been mentioned. It is unfortunate that some interested parties have chosen to resort to name-dragging for their personal agenda,” Ang said.
This statement did not sit well with many Ilonggos.
Ang is the nephew of the owners of International Builders Corp. (IBC), the biggest contractor in Western Visayas region.
When he was with IBC, Ang dealt with many local government officials prior to his election as the first nominee of Uswag during the May 2022 elections.
Uswag was founded by former Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas during the pandemic.
Incumbent Mayor Raisa Treñas, Jerry’s daughter, did not win as Uswag’s second nominee during the May 2022 elections.
IBC has been mired in controversy since 2022 as contractor of two sub-standard flyover projects in Iloilo worth more than P1.7 billion.
A September 2025 report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) said IBC was among the country’s Top 10 contractors during the administration of former President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) awarded P11.49 billion in contracts to IBC during the Aquino administration.
The PCIJ report also said that IBC was awarded P5.2 billion in contracts for a period of a year-and-half during the Duterte administration.
IBC was the winning bidder in most infrastructure projects lobbied by former Senate President Franklin Drilon, a native of Iloilo. The projects include the two substandard flyovers, one of which remains unfinished.
Ang denounced all forms of corruption.
“I am one with the people in exacting accountability from those responsible for robbing our people of their hard-earned taxes and eroding the integrity of our institutions,” Ang added.

Related Tags

Uswag Ilonggo Iloilo City Iloilo Rep. James Ang Jr. Pacifico Discaya Curlee Discaya Sarah Discaya Corruption Blue Ribbon
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