NBI to probe new Manila building awarded to Discaya firms

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago said Wednesday they will look into the construction of their new building in Manila after finding out that the contract was awarded to corporations under the Discayas.  

He said they received an initial funding of P2.4 billion for the construction. 

“Ngayon… DPWH ang nagpa-bidding kung sinong contractor ang makukuha. So nakita ko… pero dalawang contractor, construction company, both Discaya,” Santiago said in an ambush interview.

(Now… DPWH conducted the bidding to determine which contractor would get it. So I saw… but there were two contractors, construction companies, both Discaya.)

“So ‘yun isasama namin. Iimbestigahan namin ‘yung ibang bahay, kami ‘yung bahay namin, may problema din pala,” he added.

(So we will include that. We will investigate the other houses, our house too, it turns out we also have a problem.)

Santiago, however, clarified that he is not saying there is an irregularity. 

“But then iimbestigahan namin. Ano ba ito? Baka hindi magawa ‘yung building namin, baka kulang kulang, substandard ‘yung bakal. Eh, nandoon kami, lumindol, bumagsak ‘yung building namin. Iimbestigahan namin mabuti,” he said.

(But then we will investigate. What is this? Maybe our building won’t be completed, maybe the steel is lacking, substandard. And if we’re there and an earthquake happens, our building might collapse. We will investigate this thoroughly.)

He said the NBI will coordinate with Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon.

GMA News Online has asked the Discaya camp for comment and will publish their response once available.

In early September, the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) revoked the contractor's licenses of nine construction companies owned and controlled by Sarah Discaya.

For their part, Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said this may cause the construction of the NBI building to be suspended.

“Titignan natin. But if there are provisions in the contract that will allow the replacement of subcontractors or part of it, then we want to continue with the project. Hindi naman sila lang ang pwedeng asahan. Meron naman ibang pwedeng mag takeover,” he said. 

(We will see. But if there are provisions in the contract that will allow the replacement of subcontractors or part of it, then we want to continue with the project. They are not the only ones we can rely on. There are others who can take over.)

Gather evidence

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told the NBI to gather evidence.

He said the DOJ is conducting a review of its own contracts.

“We’re also reviewing the contracts of the DOJ regarding the 15 firms that were cited by the president. Kasi meron pa kaming iba na nababalitaan na ibang mga contracts,” he said.

(We’re also reviewing the contracts of the DOJ regarding the 15 firms that were cited by the president. Because we have also heard about other contracts.)

The secretary reiterated that he remains open to the admission of Sarah and Curlee Discaya into the Witness Protection Program as long as they reveal the whole truth.

Meanwhile, Santiago said the NBI received information that lawmakers mentioned by the Discayas will file a complaint with the bureau.

The Discayas, who previously expressed interest in being state witnesses, disclosed the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who are allegedly involved in corruption of the flood control projects.

“Merong namang info na ‘yung congressmen na binanggit ng mga Discaya, pupunta dito para i-reklamo si Discaya,” Santiago said in a briefing.

(There is information that the congressmen mentioned by the Discayas will come here to file a complaint against Discaya.)

“‘Yung words ni Discaya at ‘yung words nitong mga congressman na ito, hindi ‘yan ang Gospel truth na tatanggapin namin. We will evaluate, we will weigh them, at titignan natin kung sino talaga ang nag sasabi ng katotohanan,” he added.

(The words of Discaya and the words of these congressmen are not the Gospel truth that we will accept. We will evaluate, we will weigh them, and we will see who is really telling the truth.)

He also said that he believes the government can recover ill-gotten wealth from the contractors of flood control projects, if there are any. 

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Tuesday announced freeze orders on the assets of individuals and corporations that have links to alleged anomalous flood control projects. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News