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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No state witness needed in the prosecution of persons in flood control anomalies -- DOJ

No state witness needed in the prosecution of persons in flood control anomalies -- DOJ

Published Oct 16, 2025 02:38 pm

The Department of Justice (DOJ) needs no state witnesses in the prosecution of persons involved in the anomalous flood control projects.

DOJ Prosecutor General Anthony Richard Anthony A. Fadullon said in the prosecution of cases “we are looking into evidence where there is no need for a state witness.”

Fadullon issued the statement during the sidelines of the 2025 National Alternative Dispute Resolution Convention (NADRC) held at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, Oct. 16.

He reacted to the decision of contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya to no longer cooperate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) which is probing the anomalies.

He explained that the government needs a state witness if the investigation of the case cannot proceed due to lack of evidence or direct link.

Fadullon reminded that last Oct. 14, the DOJ turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) the findings and recommendations for the filing of criminal charges in the multi-million-peso “ghost and substandard” flood control projects in Bulacan.

“You can rely on documentary evidence for that without necessarily having anybody as state witness,” he said.

He stressed that the prosecution needs a state witness just to strengthen the evidence. In some cases, he said, the sworn statements of a state witness “can be retracted.”

ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka said the Discayas decided to no longer cooperate with the ICI due to the belief that they will not receive a recommendation from the commission to have them become state witnesses.

So far, Fadullon said he has not received any word from the couple if they will also no longer cooperate with the DOJ which can grant them state witness status.

The Discayas have been provisionally placed under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) while undergoing evaluation as state witnesses.

Fadullon said the decision of the Discayas not to cooperate with the ICI will not affect the DOJ’s evaluation of the couple for state witness status.

However, he emphasized: “I don’t think they are in the position to demand anything.”

He noted that while the Discayas have said they will “tell all,” they have been visiting the DOJ for around a month already and they have provided only one sworn statement.

He added that the Discayas cannot be given blanket immunity from any suit due to the numerous ghost and substandard projects they have been involved in.

“You're talking about the span of so many years. You're talking about so many projects. So many,” he also said.

Aside from the Discayas, also provisionally placed under WPP protection were former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, namely, former undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Bulacan First District’s former district engineer Henry Alcatara, and DWPH Bulacan First District’s former assistant district engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.

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