Discaya's construction firms set for probe on P2.4-B NBI building
Construction firms belonging to spouses Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya are set for investigation in the P2.4 billion contract to build the new building of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago on Wednesday, Sept. 17, said he has decided to investigate St. Gerrard Construction and Way Maker One Person Corp., the construction firms of the Discayas who have been linked to “anomalous” government flood control projects.
But Santiago clarified that the investigation will be conducted not because of wrong doing but after learning that the two construction firms belong to the Discayas.
He said the NBI did not select the construction firms for the project.
“DPWH ang nagpa-bidding kung sinong contractor ang makukuha (The Department of Public Works and Highways was the one that conducted the bidding process to select the construction firms),” he added.
“I’m not saying meron kalokohan nangyari (there are anomalies that happened),” he told journalists.
“‘Nung pumutok itong mga corruption na ito, nagtanong ako ‘yung building natin sino ang contractor?’ Ay lumabas na dalawang contractor both under Discaya (When the corruption issue came out, I asked who was the contractor of the NBI building and I found that the two contractors are under the spouses Discaya),” he recounted.
He said the NBI has engineers and we will have the building checked.
He added: “We will coordinate with Secretary Vince (Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon).”
Santiago said the NBI will seek advice from Secretary Dizon if the NBI construction will push through with the construction firms.