Contractor Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya and ex-Bulacan first District Engineering Office head Henry Alcantara were cited in contempt for lying on Thursday, Sept. 18, by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probing the anomalous flood control projects in the country.

Discaya was the first to be cited in contempt for the inconsistencies regarding the absence of his wife during the hearing, Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya. He initially stated that she did not attend due to "valid reasons," citing her heart condition.

But this was different from the excuse letter she sent to the committee, read by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping Lacson. She cited that the reason for her absence from the hearing was that she had an important meeting with her employees to explain the problem that the company is facing now and the effects this has on them.

"This meeting was already scheduled before I received the Honorable Committee's invitation this late afternoon, and some of my employees will be coming from various places, thus, I can no longer cancel the meeting set for tomorrow," Sarah said.

This irked Senator Erwin Tulfo, who told Curlee that they lied to their faces — they’re disrespecting them, and making a fool out of them.

"I mean, do not do that, eh iba yung sinasabi mo. May medical condition, kung may medical condition, sige nga. Bigyan mo nga kami ng medical certificate. Eh iba sinasabi mismo ng misis mo eh, di ba kayo nag-usap? Sana nag-usap muna kayong dalawa (I mean, don’t do that — you’re saying something different. If there’s a medical condition, then fine, show us a medical certificate. But your own wife is saying something else. Didn’t you two talk about it? You should have talked it over first)," Curlee said.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada said that this is not an acceptable reason since the hearing is of national concern.

At this point, Senator Raffy Tulfo moved to cite Curlee in contempt.

Curlee tried to make further excuses when he said that his wife suffers from diabetes and hypertension, which Senator Risa Hontiveros pointed out further adds to the confusion.

“Very inconsistent ang pinagsasabi nito. Mag-asawa sila at imposibleng hindi sila nag-uusap sa health condition ng misis niya. Pinagloloko tayo ng mga ‘to (What they’re saying is very inconsistent. They’re a married couple, and it’s impossible that they don’t talk about his wife’s health condition. These people are making a fool out of us)” Senator Raffy said.

Sen. Raffy further warned that he will be revealing more information later on that will expose more lies of the Discayas.

Meanwhile, Alcantara was cited in contempt for lying as well, as he continuously denied any involvement in the anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan, reiterating that his role was to merely sign documents.

"Yun pong ghost projects na yan, talaga pong wala po akong alam sa ghost projects na yan (As for those ghost projects, I really have no knowledge of them)," he said.

Senator Erwin stated that Alcantara has been lying for two hearings already, pointing out that the people under him, everyone has a fault, while he has none.

"You’re the district engineer, and you mean to say you don’t know there are ghost projects? You also claim you don’t know that your budget ballooned? Doesn’t that pass through your desk when your funds increase? Mr. Chair, I think this person is lying, so we have to ask him to show cause why he should not be cited for contempt today," Senator Erwin said in Filipino.

Alcantara then reiterated that he knows nothing of the ghost projects.

Unsatisfied with his explanation, Senator Erwin moved to cite him in contempt.

Later during the hearing, Senator Raffy made a motion that Curlee and Alcanta be put under the custody of the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms of the Senate (OSAA).