Discayas refused to disclose ties with CLTG Builders —Ombudsman Remulla

Contractors couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya have refused to disclose details of their partnership with Davao City-based firm CLTG Builders, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.

Remulla, in a Super Radyo dzBB interview, made the statement in light of the Discaya couple’s decision that they will no longer cooperate with the Palace-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) probing anomalous government projects.

“Simpleng simple ‘yung tanong, ‘yung nangyari sa joint venture nila sa CLTG Builders sa Davao. Ayaw naman nila sabihin eh. Ang sabi lang, wala daw sila. Kahit kailan na wala silang alam. Basta ginamit lang daw ‘yung lisensya nila. Mahirap naman yung ganoon,” he said.

(The question was simple, we asked them about their joint venture with CLTG Builders in Davao. They don’t want to tell us anything. They just said nothing, they don’t know anything, and that they just let their license be borrowed by another firm. We cannot take that as it is.)

“Selective. Sabihin nila lahat. Nasakop nila nung panahon ng dating administration. Doon sila lumaki. Kaya marami silang nakausap na tao diyan at marami silang dealings,” he added.

(Their statements are selective. They thrived during the previous administration. Their business grew exponentially, so they were able to talk to a lot of people and made a lot of dealings during that time.)

Remulla said that while the Discaya couple told authorities information that would pin down retired Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, that is not sufficient.

“Pinipili lang nila ‘yung gusto nilang idiin. At kahit sa mga congressman, ayaw nilang sabihin lahat, pati sa mga senador,” he said.

(They were cherry picking as to who they want to pin down. They don’t even want to disclose all their dealings with House members and senators.)

Remulla also said that as it is, the Discaya couple cannot evade criminal charges and subsequent jail time anymore, and their only option is to enter a plea bargain, or plea to a lesser offense and return their stolen public funds to government coffers.

“This is a reality check for them. Sinabi na sa kanila ng mga kasama ko sa DOJ na malabo na hindi sila makukulong dito sa dami na krimen na involved. Ang pwede mo lang gawin talaga rito, mag-plea bargain later, unless mag-tell all sila at makita namin na pwede silang bigyan ng immunity na exceptional. Hindi pa nangyayari 'yan sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas,” he said.

(They were already told by our colleagues in the Justice Department that they are likely to be sent to jail with multiple criminal charges they are involved in. Their only option is plea bargain, unless they do a tell all and we can see that they can be given immunity [from suit], which is an exceptional case. We have no such case yet in the Philippine history.)

“Sabihin nila yung buong katotohanan (They should just tell the whole truth) and don't protect anybody. And for them to enter a plea bargain, we will seek complete restitution. That is what is important,” Remulla added.—AOL, GMA Integrated News