PCO Secretary Dave Gomez (Photo courtesy of PPA)
There will be more.
Malacañang said the investigation on the massive flood control anomalies did not end on Christmas.
After the Discayas, there will be more individuals thrown behind bars in the new year, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez said in a statement on Friday, Dec. 26.
"The flood control investigation does not end on Dec. 25," Gomez said. "There will surely be more thrown behind bars in the New Year."
The Press Secretary added that while the Discayas are being labeled as the new Janet Lim Napoles, who was believed to have masterminded the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, he said the investigation does not end with the Discayas.
"Some quarters are calling the Discaya couple as the new Napoles but their unexplained wealth is ten times over. Both spent Christmas in detention," Gomez said.
Sarah Discaya spent Christmas in Lapu-Lapu City Jail while her husband, Curlee remained at the Senate detention.
"It's only been a little over four months. The Napoles probe took almost a year before people were sent to jail," Gomez also said.
'It's not yet over'
While another official of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) had resigned, Malacañang stressed that the investigation will continue.
The resignation of ICI Commissioner Rossana Fajardo, according to the Malacañang, will not affect the probe conducted by the commission, explaining that Fajardo has already completed the tasks given to her.
"Commissioner Rosana Fajardo has completed the specific task she was asked to perform," Gomez said in a separate statement.
"Ms. Fajardo was brought in for a clear financial forensic purpose to closely review the money linked to the projects under investigation and help trace where public funds went. That work is now finished," Gomez added.
According to the Press Secretary, Fajardo's full findings will form part of the ICI’s recommendations to the Ombudsman and will also be turned over to the proper government offices, including the Commission on Audit.
Gomez noted that Fajardo's role "was always meant to be temporary and focused only on this mandate," stressing that the focus is now on final reports and the proper handover of documents to offices like the Office of the Ombudsman for the next steps.
"The President thanks Ms. Fajardo for her service and for helping ensure that public funds are properly accounted for. This forms part of the broader effort to make the government more honest, more transparent, and more responsive to the needs of the people," Gomez said.