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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman rebuffs Curlee Discaya on return of money

Ombudsman rebuffs Curlee Discaya on return of money

Published Jan 20, 2026 11:45 am
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano rebuffed contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya’s statement on the return of money as consideration for being accepted as state witness in the flood control cases.
During the Senate hearing last Monday, Jan. 19, Discaya said that he discussed with the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) how much money he would return to the government.
Discaya said: "Ako po, hindi ko po masabi kung magkano po kasi para sa akin po, parang kami po ang nanakawan, (For me, I cannot say how much because personally, I feel like we would be robbed).”
“It’s one big joke,” declared Clavano in reaction to Discaya’s statement.
“Nang mawala ang pera para sa flood control, hindi lang pondo ang nawala, kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino ang nawala, (When the flood control money was lost, it was not just the funds that were lost, it was the safety of the Filipino people that was lost)," Clavano declared.
"Kaya mali at malaking kalokohan na tawaging 'pagnanakaw' ang pagbabalik ng ninakaw. Ang taumbayan ang unang ninakawan. Ang pag-sauli ng pera ng gobyerno ay hindi pangingikil; ito ay pananagutan, (That is why it is wrong and a big lie to call the return of what was stolen. The people were the first to be robbed. Returning government money is not extortion; it is accountability)," he stressed.
Discaya owns the Alpha and Omega Construction and St. Gerrard Construction Corporation which are involved in the “anomalous” flood control projects of the government.
Discaya’s claim had also been disputed by DOJ Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, who said that what they discussed first was what Discaya and his wife, Sarah, are able to bring to the table before they can be included in the WPP.
Sarah is now detained at the Lapu Lapu City Jail and facing trial before the city’s regional trial court (RTC) on the P96.5 million “ghost” flood control project in Davao Occidental.
Curlee, on the other hand, is detained at the Senate after he was cited in contempt during the Sept. 18, 2025 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
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