Controversial contractors Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya on Monday, Sept. 8, declared their willingness to testify as state witnesses and requested government protection after revealing an alleged kickback scheme involving lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials.
They claimed officials demanded up to 25 percent in kickbacks from government-funded flood control projects, threatening to stall progress unless payments were made.
In their testimony made during the third Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing into the anomalous flood control projects, they said the percentages demanded from them ranged from 10 percent to as high as 25 percent of project costs.
Payments, they added, were made in cash and carefully recorded in vouchers and ledgers showing the amounts, dates, and recipients.
“Matapos naming manalo sa mga bidding, may mga opisyal mula sa DPWH ang lumapit sa amin para humingi at kumuha ng bahagi nila sa halaga ng proyekto,” the contractors declared in their sworn statement.
The sworn statement identified several politicians and officials who allegedly benefited from the scheme, including:
Terence Calatrava, former undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas
USWAG Ilonggo Party-list Rep. Jojo Ang
Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas
AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones
San Jose del Monte Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes
Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona
Former congressman Benjamin Agarao Jr.
Former congressman Florencio Gabriel Noel
Occidental Mindoro Rep. Odie Tarriela
Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia
Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo
Former congressman Teodorico Haresco Jr.
Former congresswoman Antonieta Eudela
Caloocan Rep. Dean Asistio
Quezon City Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar
The Discayas also implicated DPWH officials and district engineers as conduits for collecting the kickbacks, including Regional Director Eduardo Virgilio of Region 5, Unified Management UPMO Director Ramon Ariola III, Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara, Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, Metro First Pasig City District Engineer Aristotle Ramos, North Manila District Engineer Manny Bulusan, Bulacan Sub-DEO District Engineer Edgardo Pingol, and Quezon Second DEO District Engineer Michael Rosaria.
According to the Discayas, many of these DPWH officials repeatedly said that at least 25 percent of the project funds were intended for Rep. Zaldy Co.
They further alleged that Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo often cited his closeness to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying that his projects were funded through “unprogrammed funds” and insertions approved by the Speaker.
A certain Bogs Magalong, described as Rillo’s aide, allegedly collected cash from them either at their office or at establishments such as Wine Story in Bonifacio Global City.
Rep. Jojo Ang, they added, openly admitted that not all the money went to him, but also to Speaker Romualdez and Rep. Zaldy Co.
In Pasig City, the contractors said a DPWH project engineer, Angelita Garucha, personally collected on behalf of Rep. Roman Romulo for flood control projects in 2022.
By 2025, District Engineer Aristotle Ramos allegedly demanded 30 percent as Romulo’s share, telling the contractors that the high rate could not be avoided because the funding came from unprogrammed allocations.
The Discayas also claimed that cash was handed directly to other political figures, among them Cong. Antonieta Yudela and her husband, Cong. Nicanor Briones, Cong. Florencio Gabriel Bem Noel, Arturo Atayde (father of Cong. Arjo Atayde), Cong. Eleandro Jesus Madronia of Romblon, and Cong. Benjamin “Benji” Agarao Jr.
Despite the hefty cuts, the contractors insisted they never engaged in ghost projects and strictly complied with DPWH specifications.
All projects, they said, underwent material testing and inspection before payments were released.
They admitted, however, that the forced deductions reduced their profits or even caused losses. To cope, they said they joined more projects in order to recover financially.
The Discayas have pledged to testify voluntarily as state witnesses against what they described as widespread corruption in the House of Representatives, DPWH, and other government agencies.
They appealed to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, and to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for protection.
“This statement was made voluntarily, without any force or coercion. We signed this declaration freely and truthfully,” the Discayas said. (Dhel Nazario)
