Discaya couple still in PH, says lawyer

Sarah and Curlee Discaya are still in the Philippines, their lawyer Attorney Cornelio Samaniego III said Wednesday amid the investigation into the alleged anomalous flood control projects.

“Nandito pa. Masaya nga sila kahapon. Ang sweet-sweet nga nila kahapon,” Samaniego said at a press conference.

(They are still here. They were happy and sweet yesterday.)

Earlier in the day, Senate blue ribbon committee chairperson Senator Rodante Marcoleta said some personalities linked to anomalous flood control projects already flew out of the country.

"Doon kasi sa mga pagtakas, hindi ko naman sinasabing tumakas na pero 'yung mga nagsasabi sa akin, patawarin ko na sila, ay nasa Amerika na talaga 'yung iba,” Marcoleta said.

(Regarding escape, I'm not saying they really escaped but those who told me, I forgive them, are actually in America already.)

Newly-installed Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said he requested the Department of Justice to issue an immigration lookout order against several DPWH officials and contractors involved in the probe.

“I’ve just signed a request to Justice Secretary [Jesus Crispin Remulla], copy furnished to Bureau of Immigration, for a lookout order for these individuals listed,” Dizon said.

Dizon’s request included the Discaya couple.

The Bureau of Immigration said an immigration lookout bulletin order is issued by the DOJ.

This instructs immigration officers to double check if there are any pending arrest warrants against the subjects, any violation or infraction, or to monitor their itineraries and whereabouts should they attempt to leave the country.

Samaniego said his clients will not escape from the investigation.

“Kung ano po yung nararapat na gawin nila basta nasa proseso po. Wala po kaming objection dyan,” he said.

(Whatever they are supposed to do, as long as it is in the process. We have no objection to that.)

“Wala pong tinatago ang pamilya Discaya at haharapin po namin ito nang may pagtalima sa subpoena ng House of Representatives or Senado. Makakaasa po kayo dyan hindi ho yan tatakbo,” he added.

(The Discaya family is not hiding anything and we will deal with this in compliance with the subpoena of the House of Representatives or Senate. I can assure that they will not run away.)

Luxury vehicles

At the same press briefing, Samaniego also defended his clients over alleged irregularities in the importation and taxes of their luxury vehicles. The Bureau of Customs has been searching for the Discayas’ luxury vehicles for a probe.

“Lahat po ay locally purchased. Wala pong in-import ang spouses Discaya rito para maging consignee sila o gumamit sila ng consignee. Lahat po nakarehistro yung 12 luxury cars. Hindi po irerehistro ng LTO yan kung may tax due,” he said.

(Everything was purchased locally. The Discaya couple did not import anything here so they could be consignees or use consignees. All 12 luxury cars are registered. The LTO will not register them if there is tax due.)

On Tuesday, Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada claimed that the Discayas have a total of 80 vehicles and over 40 of them are luxury vehicles.

Samaniego said that it is possible that some of the vehicles sold by the Discayas in the previous years have yet to be transferred under the name of their buyers.

“Ido-double check po namin. Kasi po nagkausap po kami sa telepono ni Sir Curlee. Ang sabi niya, baka hindi pa nailipat yung mga ibinenta nilang mga sasakyan ng previous years,” the lawyer said.

(We'll double check. Because we spoke on the phone with Sir Curlee. He said that maybe the vehicles they sold in previous years haven't been transferred yet.)

Due process

The Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) has revoked the contractor's licenses of nine construction companies owned and controlled by Sarah.

For Samaniego, the decision should undergo due process.

“Sa pagkakaalam ko, may extension to submit mga documents. Pero kung ni-revoke kaagad, surreptitiously, may problema po tayo sa due process. Lahat dapat dumaan tayo sa due process,” he said.

(As far as I know, there is an extension to submit documents. But if it is revoked immediately, surreptitiously, we will have a problem with due process. We must all go through due process.)

“Hindi po pupuwede dahil nakiki-ride on ka lang sa issue ay swift ang action natin. Hindi po ganoon. May tinatawag tayong due process,” he added.

(You cannot just ride on the issue and impose swift action. That should not be the case. We have something called due process.)

The lawyer also clarified that Sarah already divested from her eight companies. 

“Sa siyam na companies, si Ma'am sa Alpha and Omega lang siya. Nakapag-divest na siya sa walo. Documented po yan,” he said.

(Out of the nine companies, Ma'am Sarah is only connected to Alpha and Omega. She has divested from the eight companies. That is documented," he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News