Senators urge Discayas to show proof vs solons linked to flood control projects

Several senators on Tuesday called on the Discaya couple to present evidence to prove their claim that there were House members who allegedly benefited from the government’s flood control projects. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, who is poised to become the new Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, said that Sarah and Curlee Discaya need to show evidence to back up their testimony during Monday’s hearing.  

“Unang una resibo ang hahanapin ko. Hindi pwedeng say-so, hindi pwedeng maski sino ituro hook, line, and sinker ‘yun na ‘yun. Syempre hanapan mo ng pruweba. Kasi ako mahilig ako sa resibo eh,” Lacson said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(The first thing I'm going to look for is evidence. It couldn’t be say-so, you can't just even pinpoint someone and it would be hook, line, and sinker. Of course, we have to look for proof. I like evidence.) 

This was echoed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who said that the Discayas needed to prove if their revelation was true.  

“Definitely, kailangang patunayan kung totoo ba ang bawat isang rebelasyon na sinabi nina Sarah at Curlee Discaya—‘yung bawat pangalang binanggit nila, ‘yung mga ebidensya diumano na dapat nilang ipakita para sa bawat isang pangalan na iyon,” she said. 

(Definitely, it is necessary for them to prove whether every single revelation they said is true. They need to show evidence for every single name they mentioned.) 

The Discayas 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 Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, as they expressed willingness to be state witnesses into the investigation.

Senator Erwin Tulfo, meanwhile, said that the Discayas should present CCTV footage of the alleged transactions involving these government officials. 

“Ang sinasabi ko diyan is [dapat] may ebidensya sila. Mahirap naman po, wala po tayo doon, wala po ang mga senador doon. Sila lang po 'ika nga nag-usap,” the younger Tulfo said. 

(What I'm saying is that they must have evidence. It's difficult because we're not there, the senators weren't there. They were the only ones who talked about that.) 

Witness protection 

For his part, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said that no witness protection will be given to the Discaya couple if their sworn statement is “edited or photoshopped.”

“2016 pa sila sa flood control projects pero mula lang 2022 ang mga pinangalanan. Hindi maaaring ‘edited o photoshopped’ ang inyong sworn statement. Hindi pwede ang cover up. Dapat ay the whole truth. Hindi pwede sa witness protection ang cover up. Ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw,” Pangilinan said in a Facebook post. 

(They’ve been into flood control projects since 2016, but they only named people allegedly involved starting in 2022. Your sworn statement cannot be 'edited or photoshopped'. You cannot cover it up. It must be the whole truth. You cannot cover up to get witness protection. The thief is a brother of the liar.) 

During Monday’s Senate hearing, the Discaya couple asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the Senate blue ribbon committee for protection and security for their family, following their testimony. —AOL, GMA Integrated News