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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Discaya spouses appear before DOJ on plea as state witnesses in 'anomalous' flood control projects

Discaya spouses appear before DOJ on plea as state witnesses in 'anomalous' flood control projects

Published Sep 19, 2025 01:15 pm
Spouses Cezarah “Sarah” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, whose firms are allegedly involved in the multi-billion-peso “anomalous” flood control projects, appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Sept. 19, for their application to be state witnesses.
DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said the department will check if the affidavits of the Discayas “are truthful, genuine, authentic, and complete.”
Clavano said that if their affidavits meet the criteria, “we can now determine the risk that they are facing whether or not they are being threatened, intimidated by people that are involved in the case.”
He said the Discayas will also be asked to return to the government the funds they received for “anomalous” flood control projects.
“Ang tingin po kasi ni Secretary hindi naman po pwedeng bigyan ng immunity ang isang tao kung unjustly enriched po s’ya (Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla believes people who unjustly enriched themselves should not be given immunity),” Clavano said.
In allowing them to keep the money, “it’s very awkward and sa tingin po namin (we believe) it’s not the right way” to have them covered under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP), he said.
“Kaya (That’s why) the Secretary is very stringent and very stern in his condition and demands to return the money first before anything,” he added.
Earlier, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson had said the Discayas have bagged a staggering P207.25 billion worth of infrastructure projects from 2016 until 2025.
Lacson had also said the amount is the total awarded to the Discayas’ nine firms as collated from the data of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
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