Discaya couple names gov't execs allegedly linked to flood control projects

Contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya on Monday disclosed the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who are allegedly involved in corruption in the country’s flood control projects.

The Discaya couple said this during the ongoing Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, as they expressed willingness to be state witnesses into the investigation. 

“Paulit ulit kaming ginamit ng mga nasa pwesto sa sistemang ito, wala kaming magawa dahil kung hindi kami makikisama, gagawan nila ng problema ang project na na-award sa amin sa pagitan ng mutual termination o pagkakaroon ng right of way problem na parehong nagdudulot ng hindi matuloy ang implementasyon ng mga proyekto,” Curlee Discaya said in his testimony. 

(We have been repeatedly used by those in power in this system. We couldn’t do anything because if we do not cooperate, they will mess with the project that was awarded to us through mutual termination or having a right of way problem, which may result in the halting of the project’s implementation.)

“Matapos naming manalo sa mga bidding, may mga opisyal mula sa DPWH ang lumalapit sa amin para humingi at kumuha ng bahagi niya sa halaga ng proyekto. Ang hinihingi nilang porsyento ay hindi bababa sa sampung porsyento at umaabot pa ng 25% na naging kondisyon upang hindi maipit ang implementasyon ng programa,” he added.

(After we win the bidding, some officials from the DPWH approach us to ask and take their share of the cost from the project. The percentage they demanded was at least 10% percent up to 25% which was a condition so that the implementation of the program would continue.) 

The congressmen mentioned by the Discaya couple were: 

• Pasig City Rep Roman Romulo
• Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Rep. Jojo Ang
• Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas
• Quezon City Rep. Juan Carlos "Arjo" Atayde
• Agap Partylist Rep. Nicanor "Nikki" Briones 
• Marikina Rep. Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro
• San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes
• Romblon Rep.  Eleandro Jesus Madrona
• Rep. Benjamin "Benjie" Agarao, Jr.
• An-waray Partylist Rep. Florencio Gabriel Bem Noel
• Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody "Ode" Tarriela
• Quezon Rep. Reynante "Reynan" Arogancia
• Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo
• Aklan Rep. Teodorico "Teodoro" Haresco
• Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Antonieta Yudela
• Caloocan City Rep. Dean Asistio
• Quezon City Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar

Former Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas of the Philippines Undersecretary Terrence Calatrava was also mentioned. 

Curlee Discaya said that staff of some politicians also asked to meet them to ask for a percentage in exchange for the projects awarded to them.

Meanwhile, the DPWH officials allegedly involved were:  

• Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte of DPWH Region V
• Director Ramon Arriola III of Unified Project Management Offices
• District Engineer Henry Alcantara of DPWH Bulacan 1st District
• Undersecretary Robert Bernardo
• District Engineer Aristotle Ramos of DPWH Metro Manila 1st District
• District Engineer Edgardo Pingol of DPWH Bulcana Sub-Deo
• District Engineer Michael Rosaria of DPWH Quezon 2nd DEO

“Karamihan sa mga kawani ng DPWH na nabanggit sa itaas ay paulit-ulit na binabanggit ang delivery ng pera ay para kay Zaldy Co, na dapat ay at least 25%,” Curlee Discaya said. 

(Most of the DPWH staff mentioned above repeatedly mentioned that the money delivery was for Zaldy Co, which should be at least 25%.) 

“Si Cong. Marvin Rillo naman ay ilang beses binabanggit ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez bilang kanyang malapit na kaibigan,” he added. 

(Cong. Marvin Rillo, on the other hand, mentioned the name of Speaker Martin Romualdez several times as his close friend.) 

Protection 

With their testimony, the Discaya couple asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the Senate blue ribbon committee chaired by Senator Rodante Marcoleta help for protection and security for their family. 

According to Sarah Discaya, district engineers and regional directors of DPWH and chiefs-of-staff of lawmakers earlier offered projects said to be funded by the congressmen when their companies started winning in government biddings. 

She said that they initially tried to decline the offer by reporting the scheme to the DPWH, but to no avail.

“Sabi nila, dapat tanggapin namin ang reyalidad na dapat kaming magbayad sa mga mambabatas kung gusto pa naming magpatuloy na magkaroon ng projects sa gobyerno. Kung hindi, binabala nila na matanggal sa listahan ang kumpanya namin at hindi na makakakuha ng kahit anong proyekto,” she said.

(They said we must accept the reality that we must pay the legislators if we want to continue to win in government projects. If not, they warned that our company will be removed from the list and will not be able to get any projects.) 

“Hindi naming ginusto kailanman na mapasama sa ganitong sistema, pero kailangan naming magpatuloy para sa pamilya at mga empleyado,” she added. 

(We never wanted to be in this system, but we have to continue for our family and our employees.)

Denial

Some of those named already denied the accusation made by the Discayas during the Senate hearing. 

Speaker Romualdez branded the claim of Discaya as false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping. He said he would not allow lies to pass unchecked. 

''Let me be clear: Wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain,'' the Speaker said in a statement. 

(I have no role and I have not allowed this kind of action.) 

''Congress debates and approves the budget. It does not release funds. It does not implement projects. That is the sole duty of the Executive and agencies like the DPWH,'' he added.

Romualdez underscored that he has never, and will never accept a bribe from anybody. 

''Walang sinuman ang kayang manuhol sa akin. Alam iyan ng lahat ng House members (No one can bribe me. House members know that). I am self-made, and I have been blessed with the trust of the Filipino people. I do not need—and will never allow myself—to be corrupted by money that does not belong to me,'' he said.

He said these lies and name-dropping should not destroy reputations or weaken faith in Congress.

Rillo, meanwhile, denied name-dropping Romualdez, as claimed by Discaya.

"Hindi ko kailanman ginamit, pinahiram, o inangkin ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez (I have never used, lent, or claimed the name of Speaker Martin Romualdez). It is both deplorable and unacceptable that my name—and even the name of the Speaker—has been carelessly and maliciously dragged into these falsehoods," Rillo said.

"I will exhaust every legal remedy available to protect my name, clear the Speaker's good name, and hold accountable those who attempt to destroy reputations with unfounded claims. The truth will prevail," he added.

Madrona, for his part, questioned the basis of Discaya's remarks before senators this morning.

''I strongly deny the statement of Discaya,'' Madrona said in a statement. ''To my recollection, wala akong project sa kanya, so anong basehan ng sinabi niyang pagbigay niya sa akin (I have no project with him, so what was his basis on his claim that he gave me money)?''

Madrona said he had heard that the Discayas bid on projects in Romblon; but, he insisted that he has no hand and knowledge on how they pay those involved. 

For her part, Robes, who is now the mayor of San Jose del Monte, said she would file a libel case against Curlee Discaya. 

“Kung sino man gumagamit ng pangalan ko, mangilabot naman kayo (Whoever uses my name, may you get goosebumps)!'' Robes said in a statement. 

“Kitang-kita naman ng marami kung gaano na kaganda ang San Jose del Monte ngayon. Walang ghost project dito at pang-world class ang aming mga infrastructure,” Robes said. 

(Everyone can see how beautiful San Jose del Monte is right now. There's no ghost project and the kind of our infrastructure is world-class.) 

Teodoro, former mayor of Marikina City, branded Discaya's remarks as diversionary tactics to turn the attention away from the real corruption in flood control projects. 

''Walang katotohanan ang mga paratang ng mga Discaya. Isa lang itong demolition job—a cheap shot para siraan ako,'' Teodoro said, noting that the projects of the Discayas in Marikina City were secured before his term as congressman. 

(The allegations of the Discayas are not true. This is a demolition job—a cheap shot to destroy me.)

Teodoro stressed that he never accepted money or any favors in exchange for political influence or legislative action. 

''With this, I am now contemplating on filing charges against the Discayas for lying and for trying to besmirch my good reputation,'' he said. ''I am planning to file perjury dahil may false testimony sila in a legislative hearing, and perjury dahil they are under oath (because of their false testimony in a legislative hearing and they are under oath).''

Atayde also denied the allegation that he benefited from any contractor, saying that he has never dealt with them

''I have never used my position for personal gain, and I never will. I will avail of all remedies under the law to clear my name and hold accountable those who spread these falsehoods,'' Atayde said.

Romulo also denied Discaya's accusation. 

''Not true,'' he said.

In a separate statement, Romulo said he was never involved in any bidding nor in selecting contractors for DPWH projects, noting that Discaya's statements were made to shift the blame on these corrupt practices. 

''Such tactics undermine the integrity of official proceedings and mislead the public with baseless insinuations. I challenge my accusers to present clear and solid evidence,'' Romulo said. 

Tarriela, for his part, dismissed the allegation and said that the implementation of the projects lies solely on the DPWH, adding that he has no part in it. 

''Ang pagtukoy at pagpapapondo ng malalaking national government projects tulad ng flood control ay trabaho ng DPWH Regional o National Office, at hindi ng congressman,'' he said. 

(Determining and funding big national government projects are under the DPWH regional or national office, and not the job of the congressman.)

Vargas, on the other hand, said the Discayas have no project in his district.

''Zero. This is confirmed and certified. I will file a case against them for this blatant lie. My track record speaks for itself,'' he said. 

Asistio, for his part, said he never accepted any money from the Discayas and DPWH records will bear him out.

“Mariin nating itinatanggi ang alegasyon na tayo po ay tumanggap ng anumang halaga ng pera mula sa mag-asawang Discaya. Walang ghost projects sa distritong aking nasasakupan,” Asistio said.

(I vehemently deny that I received money from the Discayas. There are no ghost projects in my district.)

Asistio then vowed to take the Discayas to court over such allegations.

“DPWH records would show that it was the same agency that supervised infrastructure projects in my district, and that all these projects were awarded to the contractors based on public bidding,” he said.

“Sinisigurado ko na pananagutin ko ang mag-asawang Discaya sa kanilang mapanira at malisyosong mga paratang. Magkikita tayo sa Korte,” he added.

(Rest assured, I will make the Discaya couple face the consequences of their destructive and malicious allegations. I will see them in court.)

Agarao agreed that filing a case against the Discayas is the next logical step given the unfounded allegations. 

"I categorically deny the allegations of the spouses Discaya and I asked money from them in exchange for projects in my district in Laguna. Hindi po iyan totoo. Wala po silang proyekto sa aking distrito," Agarao said. 

(That is not true. They don't have a project in my district.)

"I will sue them for libel and perjury. Hindi ko hahayaan na sirain nila ng ganun lang ang pangalan at reputasyon ko na iningatan ko ng mahabang panahon," Agarao added.

(I won't let them get away with disparaging my reputation that I worked years on building.)—with reports from Anna Felicia Bajo/Llanesca Panti/AOL/VDV, GMA Integrated News