Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said that contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya must accept the fact that they are bound to face imprisonment for their role in the ghost and substandard flood-control projects in the country, stressing that their refusal to cooperate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will not affect his office’s investigation.
Remulla said the Discayas are not the only witnesses, adding that his office’s probe will proceed regardless of their decision.
As far as he is concerned, Remulla said the Discaya spouses, who own the construction firms Alpha and Omega Construction and St. Gerrard Construction Corporation, can either opt for plea bargaining agreement with the government or do a “complete restitution and tell-all” in the hopes of “exceptional immunity.”
Plea bargaining in criminal cases involves pleading guilty to a lesser offense for a lesser penalty.
Remulla said the Discaya couple is keeping things close to their chests as they are still being “selective” about what they divulge to investigators.
He said this was evident when they were asked about the dealings with CLTG Builders in Davao City, as the Discaya couple claimed they did not know anything and their company’s license was only used in the infrastructure projects.
He also said that he had advised the Discayas: “Don’t protect anybody. Kailangan truth-teller ang kausap ng gobyerno.” (Czarina Ong Ki)
