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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 2 witnesses point to Curlee Discaya's role in alleged Romualdez's Makati property

2 witnesses point to Curlee Discaya's role in alleged Romualdez's Makati property

Published Jan 19, 2026 05:00 pm

At A Glance

  • The witnesses, "Mary" and "Joy" (not their real name) appeared at the Senate wearing hoods and their faces covered and positively pointed to Discaya, who is currently detained at the Senate, as the contractor involved in the sale of a high-end property located in No. 30 Tamarind Street in South Forbes, Makati.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, reopened on Tuesday its inquiry into alleged irregularities in government-funded flood control projects in Pasay City. Among those in attendance at the hearing were contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, as well as former Department of Public Works and Highways officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez an dformer DPWH Sec. Manuel Bonoan. (Contributed photos)
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, reopened on Tuesday its inquiry into alleged irregularities in government-funded flood control projects in Pasay City. Among those in attendance at the hearing were contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, as well as former Department of Public Works and Highways officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez an dformer DPWH Sec. Manuel Bonoan. (Contributed photos)

Two witnesses surfaced on Monday, January 19 at the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the anomalous flood control projects and tagged contractor Curlee Discaya in former House speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez’s alleged questionable purchase of a property in Makati City.

The witnesses, “Mary” and “Joy” (not their real name) appeared at the Senate wearing hoods and their faces covered and positively pointed to Discaya, who is currently detained at the Senate, as the contractor involved in the sale of a high-end property located in No. 30 Tamarind Street in South Forbes, Makati.

Earlier, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he will be presenting a witness that could link the former House speaker to the Discaya couple who are at the center of the flood control corruption scandal.

Lacson said Romualdez supposedly used the Discaya couple as a “front” to buy the property.

Lacson, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon panel, invited the witnesses who both claimed to be office staff of Rico Ocampo, the original owner of the house allegedly acquired by Romualdez in April 2023.

During their testimony before the panel, “Mary” and “Joy” said Curlee Discaya was introduced to them by a broker named TJ Conti in Feb. 1, 2024, as the contractor of the property acquired.

The next day, Feb. 2, they appealed to Discaya to extend their stay because they have so many things to retrieve from the house.

“We had a lengthy talk with him because we appealed to extend our stay because there were so many things that we need to bring from the house,” said one of the witnesses.

“But he argued that he too has a deadline to meet. And then we both asked if we can talk to the new owner of the house and then he mentioned it was Speaker Romualdez who bought the house,” said one of the witnesses called as “Mary.”

When asked how they were able to identify that it was Discaya whom they dealt with, they said they recognized his face during the Senate hearings on the flood control anomalies.

“We already mentioned that to our boss when his face appeared in TV (television),” they said.

“We remember his face because he personally directed everything to expedite our removal from the house,” one of the witnesses said.

Discaya, however, denied knowing them and said he never stepped foot inside South Forbes Park in Makati City.

“Your honor, we’ve never stepped foot inside South Forbes Park,” Curlee Discaya told the committee. 

Related Tags

Curlee Discaya flood control allegations FLOOD CONTROL PROBE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee
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