Lawmakers mull filing charges vs Discayas over flood control corruption allegations

Some lawmakers on Tuesday said they are considering filing a complaint against the Discayas after the couple named them on Monday at a Senate hearing as recipients of kickbacks in flood control projects. 

“Sa totoo po, pinag-iisipan ko na rin po ngayon [ang pag-file ng reklamo] kasi para lang matapos na po ito. Pero ayoko po maging focus ang mga kaso ng iba-ibang gusto mag-file sa kanila,” Pasig City Lone District Representative Roman Romulo told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(Actually, I'm thinking about it [filing complaint] now so this would be over. But I don't want the focus to be on the cases that different people want to file against them.)

Romulo said the focus should still be on the reported ghost and substandard projects of the Discayas.

“Ang focus pa rin dapat po (ay) sa ghost flood projects at sa mga substandard. Doon dapat nakatungo pa rin. Huwag natin ilihis na nagkasuhan na, okay na 'yan, bahala na sila. Hindi 'yan ang issue. Ang issue dito ang ghost projects na nangyari,” he added.

(The focus should still be on ghost flood projects and substandard ones. That's where we should still be heading. Let's not divert attention by saying that charges have been filed, that's okay already, let them handle it. That's not the issue. The issue here is the ghost projects.)

Marikina City 1st District Representative Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro said the Discayas may face a complaint for perjury after they supposedly gave false testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

“Ipapakuha ko ngayon ang kopya ng journal ng blue ribbon committee dahil baka meron at tingin ko meron talaga na legal implication 'yung ginawa ng mga Discaya kahapon dahil nagbigay sila ng false testimony in a legislative hearing,” Teodoro said.

(I will now get a copy of the journal of the blue ribbon committee because there might be and I think there really is a legal implication to what the Discayas did yesterday because they gave false testimony in a legislative hearing.)

“Perjury 'yun dahil under oath 'yung kanilang mga paglalahad sa Senate blue ribbon,” he added.

(That is perjury because their statements to the Senate Blue Ribbon were made under oath.)

Sarah and Curlee Discaya, contractors linked to anomalous flood control projects, named politicians, staff, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) executives on Monday as having received kickbacks.

Lawmakers said the couple did so to divert the issue away from their ghost projects.

“Nalilihis yung usapin. Tingnan niyo rin po. Nasama po sila sa ghost projects. Pero pansinin niyo lahat ng bingaggit, wala na doon sa ghost projects,” Romulo said.

(The issue is being diverted. Look into it too. They were involved in ghost projects. But notice that everything that was mentioned is no longer about ghost projects.)

Romulo said the Discayas dragged his name into the corruption issue because they are political rivals in Pasig City. He added that there was no ghost flood control project in his area.

Teodoro meanwhile said the Discayas made the accusation after he exposed the “double funding” in the DPWH and red flags in the 2026 budget through insertions. Teodoro said he only started his term as a congressman two months ago and the first time he served as lawmaker was in 2007.

Teodoro called the Discayas’ move a demolition job.

Other personalities named by the  Discayas also denied the allegations. —KG, GMA Integrated News