Discayas still in PH, says DOJ chief Remulla

Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crisipin Remulla said on Friday that the Discayas, who are subjects of investigations regarding flood control projects, are in the country.

“Yung major Discaya people hindi naman nakalabas. Basta ang aming nilabas doon, ang aming nilagay na ILBO (immigration lookout bulletin order) was what was requested by Senator [Rodante] Marcoleta, the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Secretary Vince Dizon. So yung ILBO natin is really focused on those people,” he said in a press conference.

(The main people among the Discayas have yet to get out of the country. What we did was issue an ILBO for the people requested by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who is the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Secretary Vince Dizon. So our ILBO is focused on those people.)

Remulla earlier signed the initial batch of immigration lookout bulletin orders (ILBO) against contractors and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) following the request of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Rodante Marcoleta.

Among the initial list of 35 individuals under Bureau of Immigration’s monitoring are Sarah Discaya of Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corp., and her niece Ma. Roma Discaya Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corp.

Meanwhile, 43 other individuals also tagged in the anomalous projects are under the second batch of ILBO.

The Discayas are among the owners of some of the 15 construction firms that have secured 20% of the government flood control projects.

The Bureau of Customs is investigating whether Sarah and her husband Pacifico have paid the proper taxes for the luxurious vehicles they have acquired.

All 12 luxury vehicles that were the subjects of a search warrant at the Discayas' St. Gerrard construction firm in Pasig have all been accounted for, after initially finding just two on Tuesday morning in the court-ordered operation.

With all 12 vehicles secured, the Bureau of Customs will verify the expensive cars' importation records to determine compliance with customs laws. — BAP, GMA Integrated News