Vico Sotto says Discayas’ billions contradict claim of 2%-3% earnings per project

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto accused contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya of lying under oath, telling lawmakers on Tuesday that their sworn claim of earning only 2% to 3% from government flood control projects was “obviously false.”

Testifying before the House committee on public works and highways, Sotto said the Discayas had cornered no less than P100 billion worth of contracts through at least nine companies allegedly controlled via dummies.

“Katunayan, flood control projects pa lang po ito. Hindi bababa sa P100 billion ang total contracts po nila sa ating pamahalaan, Mr. Chair,” Sotto said.

(In fact, just for flood control projects alone, the total contracts they received from the government amount to no less than ?100 billion, Mr. Chair.)

He argued that the couple’s wealth—including properties, vehicles, and luxury items—contradicted their declared income.

“Pinagyabang nila 11 digits ang assets nila. So hindi bababa sa P10 billion? Nakita po natin isang jade lang nila sa office nila, P100 million na kaagad 'yun,” Sotto told the panel.

(They boasted about having 11-digit assets. So that’s not less than P10 billion. We saw one jade item in their office worth P100 million.)

The mayor said even “simple logic” would show the Discayas’ numbers did not add up, warning lawmakers to treat their testimony with caution.

“Pag tinignan po natin logically, 2%-3% of even P100 billion is only P2 billion to 3 billion… it is already clear that they are lying,” he said.

(If we look at it logically, 2%-3% of even P100 billion is only P2 billion to 3 billion… it is already clear that they are lying.)

Sotto added that while some officials named by the Discayas may indeed be involved in corruption, many of their accusations were made without proof.

“These are people who are really capable of lying without batting an eyelash,” he warned.

Sotto’s presence in the House flood control probe came less than 24 hours after he cautioned the public from believing the testimony made by contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya II of St. Gerrard Construction, which bagged government flood control project contracts.—AOL, GMA Integrated News