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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Contractor Sarah Discaya surrenders to NBI in anticipation of an arrest order

Contractor Sarah Discaya surrenders to NBI in anticipation of an arrest order

Published Dec 9, 2025 05:00 pm

Contractor Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday morning, Dec. 9, in anticipation of an arrest order that may be issued by the court against her and her co-accused.

Lawyer Cornelio Samaniego III, the spokesperson of the Discayas, confirmed the surrender of Sarah Discaya.

“Wala s’yang tinatago (She has nothing to hide),” Samaniego said in a text message when asked why she decided to surrender.

Samaniego noted that Sarah was accompanied by her lawyer when she went to the NBI headquarters in Pasay City.

Sarah turned herself in after President Marcos said that she could be arrested this week once an arrest warrant is issued against her.

The cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against Sarah before the Digos City regional trial court (RTC) involved the P96.5 million “ghost” infrastructure project in Davao Occidental in 2022.

The charges were the non-bailable malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents and graft.

The other accused in the cases were officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Occidental District Engineering Office led by District Engineer Rodrigo C. Larete, Assistant District Engineer Michael P. Awa, and several section chiefs, project engineers, and inspectors.

Aside from Sarah Discaya, the OMB also charged Ma. Roma Angelin Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corporation.

In filing the cases in court, the OMB said that the accused conspired to facilitate the release of P96.5 million for the supposed construction of a revetment project in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.

Based on official inspection and witness accounts, the project was never implemented, it said.

It also pointed out that there was no actual construction, yet the accused certified that the project was completed.

The accused DPWH officials in Davao Occidental have been preventively suspended for six months because of their administrative case.

The suspension order was served by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon when he conducted his own inspection in Davao Occidental.

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