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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SOJ Remulla denies agreeing to have Discaya spouses as state witnesses in 'anomalous' flood control projects

SOJ Remulla denies agreeing to have Discaya spouses as state witnesses in 'anomalous' flood control projects

Published Sep 15, 2025 03:14 pm
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Monday, Sept. 15, denied he agreed with Sen. Rodante D. Marcoleta to turn as state witness spouses and contractors Cezarah “Sarah” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya in the “anomalous” government flood control projects.
“We do not create a state witness just like that since it has to go through a process of evaluation,” Remulla told journalists covering the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Remulla’s statement was issued in reaction to Marcoleta’s declaration during a press conference that the latter plans to confront the former for changing his stance on the Discayas.
Remulla had earlier said that the Discayas will have to return stolen government money first before being considered state witnesses.
Marcoleta said that before Remulla made the pronouncements, the DOJ secretary had agreed to have the Discayas placed under the department’s Witness Protection Program.
Remulla confirmed that he and Marcoleta had a telephone conversion but denied agreeing to have the Discayas turn state witnesses.
“I hope he (Marcoleta) has a recording of our conversation para madali na makita talaga ‘yung pinag-usapan namin (so that it would be easier to tell what we really talked about). I cannot say I promised something I cannot deliver,” Remulla stressed.
He reminded that it is not within his power to have anybody placed in the Witness Protection Program
“Wala po sa power ko ‘yun. Hindi po ganoon ang Witness Protection Program. It does not emanate from a request of the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee who is saying ‘pare, gawin mo ‘tong state witness (It is not within my power. That’s not how the Witness Protection Program works. (It does not emanate from a request of the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee who is saying ‘friend, please turn this person into a state witness’.) It cannot happen that way. We have to follow a process of evaluation also,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is preparing cases involving the “anomalous” flood control projects in the 1st District of Bulacan.
“They just validated the information of three ghost projects that they found within the coordinates given in the Sumbong Sa Pangulo website,” he disclosed.
He said the NBI went to the place cited in the coordinates and “they saw no projects” worth P100 million to P300 million.
Plunder and malversation of public funds may be filed against those involved, he also said.
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