Sotto: Move to make Discayas state witnesses to be assessed first

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Wednesday said he has not yet signed the recommendation to allow contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya to become state witnesses, following their testimony that some lawmakers were allegedly involved in the flood control anomalies.

Sotto told reporters that Senator Rodante Marcoleta, former Senate blue ribbon committee chairman, made the recommendation. This was then forwarded to the new panel chair, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, according to the Senate chief. 

"I forwarded the supposed letter to Senator Lacson, pag-uusapan muna namin (we will talk about it first)… He is now the Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, so we'll probably assess muna (first) the composition," Sotto said in an ambush interview. 

"As I read it, sabi ko nga, kumpleto na ba? 'Yun bang tell-all na 'yun, maging state witness nila o tell-half?" Sotto asked.

(Is their testimony already complete? Was that tell-all or tell-half?) 

The letter of Marcoleta, dated September 8, highlighted the "necessity" of the Discaya couple's testimony and the “reported threats to their and their family’s personal safety and security.”

It was not signed by Sotto.

SP Sotto refuses to sign Marcoleta’s Witness Protection Request for spouses Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya

The letter was addressed to Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla but lacked the Senate President’s approval.

from the ofc of SP Sotto ?? pic.twitter.com/zRQPwTJU52

— Nimfa R. Ravelo (@nimfaravelo) September 10, 2025

The Discayas disclosed Monday the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHW) 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 following their revelation. They also asked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the committee to ensure the protection and security of their family.

In a separate statement, Sotto said that it would be unfair for the Discayas to be protected by the government despite allegedly misusing taxpayers’ money. 

“Hindi naman puwedeng makakuha sila ng proteksyon ng gobyerno pero ang dami nilang nakuhang pera ng bayan. Unfair sa mga kababayan natin ‘yon,” the Senate President said. 

(They can't just get government protection while they've taken so much of the people's money. That's unfair to our fellow citizens.) 

“Ang kailangan para maging state witness ka, ibalik mo ang ninakaw mo, magsabi ka ng totoo. Iba ang sinabi sa Senado, iba ang sinabi sa House. Sabi nga ni Mayor Vico Sotto, sinungaling sila. Hindi ganon kadali ang hiling nila,” he added. 

(What's required to become a state witness is for you to return what you stole and tell the truth. What was said in the Senate was different from what was said in the House. As Mayor Vico Sotto said, they are liars. What they are asking for isn't that easy.) 

At the House of Representatives, former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez claimed that some senators, namely Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, were also involved in alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Both senators have denied the allegation. — VDV, GMA Integrated News