The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) declared on Thursday, Dec. 11, that the fears expressed by contractor Cesarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya—who admitted her children have been heavily affected by her surrender to authorities—“are the results of her own wrongdoing.”
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano underscored that Discaya should have considered the future of millions of Filipinos who were put at risk when funds were diverted from flood control projects intended to protect communities.
“Sarah has the right to due process but fears cannot be used as an excuse to evade responsibility,” Clavano said. “The consequences are here because the choices were hers.”
Discaya, president of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, together with suspended officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Occidental, has been charged with graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The charges stem from the P96.5 million “ghost” flood control project in 2022 in Davao Occidental.
On Tuesday, Dec. 9, Discaya surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in anticipation of an arrest order from the regional trial court (RTC).
During an interview with ABS-CBN, she broke down in tears, saying her children were deeply affected by her decision.
She clarified, however, that her stay at the NBI office was for her “safekeeping” rather than an actual surrender.
“At least, I’m somewhere safe,” she said. (Czarina Ong Ki)
