‘Outrageous’: Jinggoy says Discayas own more than 40 luxury vehicles

Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday claimed that Sarah and Pacifico Discaya, whose construction firm secured several government flood control projects, own 80 vehicles—including more than 40 luxury cars, far more than the 28 Sarah said they owned.

“Ayon sa aking nakalap na impormasyon, nasa 80 sasakyan ang pagmamay-ari ng mag-asawang Discaya at ng kanilang mga kumpanya. Mula sa 80, nasa mahigit kumulang na 40 ang luxury vehicles,” he said in his privilege speech during the hearing by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

(According to the information I gathered, the Discaya couple and their companies own 80 vehicles. Out of the 80, more or less 40 are luxury vehicles.) 

The senator earlier questioned Sarah, the president of Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp., over their collection of luxury vehicles that went viral in an interview with journalist Julius Babao.

Sarah acknowledged owning a P42-million Rolls Royce as well as Mercedes Benz, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Range Rover units.

Told that she had said previously that there were 40, Discaya said that only 28 were considered luxury vehicles. The others, she said, were service vehicles owned by the company.

But Estrada said that the information he received showed that the Discayas owned more than what they initially disclosed.

“From the LTO records, there are 63 vehicles, luxury and mainstream brands. Kasama diyan yung mga nabanggit ni Sarah Discaya kahapon sa hearing na [These include the ones Sarah Discaya mentioned in yesterday's hearing, including a] Rolls Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, dalawang [two] GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes Benz Wagon G63, Range Rover Evoque,” he said.

“May tatlo din siyang binanggit kahapon, yung Range Rover Defender, Cadillac Escalade, at Mercedes Benz Maybach, na wala po sa records ng LTO [They also mentioned three that are not in the LTO records].” 

Estrada said the Discayas have eight other vehicles that were featured in the interview with Babao, but were not found in LTO records.

“Napag-alaman din ng aking tanggapan na mayroon pang anim na mamahaling sasakyan na pagmamay-ari ng mag-asawang Discaya tulad ng Volvo XC90, Mercedes Benz GLS, at isang Maserati,” Estrada added. 

(My office also found that the Discaya couple owns six more luxury vehicles like a Volvo XC90, a Mercedes Benz GLS, and a Maserati.) 

Estrada also asked Sarah on Monday why they have such a large number of cars. She said, ”I have four kids that use it all the time…” She also admitted that she bought the Rolls Royce because she fancied the umbrella that came with it. 

Further, the Senate Pro Tempore said that the amount of cars owned by the Discayas is overwhelming.

“Nakakalulang yaman ito, ginoong pangulo. Kung doon sa 28 luxury cars na inamin ni Sarah na pagmamay-ari nila ay halos hindi ako makapaniwala. Wala pa pala yun sa kalahati ang kabuuang bilang ng kanilang mga sasakyan. Mr. President, this is totally outrageous,” said Estrada. 

(This is a staggering wealth, Mr. President. When Sarah admitted to owning 28 luxury cars, I almost couldn't believe it. It turns out that wasn't even half of the total number of their vehicles. Mr. President, this is totally outrageous.) 

Estrada disclosed the findings hours after the Bureau of Customs raided the property of the Discayas and found some luxury vehicles. — BM, GMA Integrated News