DPWH, Ombudsman looking into alleged links between Discayas, CLTG Builders

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Ombudsman are now looking into the possible links of contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya to the CLTG Builders, which is owned by the father of Senator Bong Go, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said Thursday.

“We are looking at connections between the Discayas and CLTG Corporation. 'Yun ang usapan namin ni Ombudsman kagabi,” Dizon said in an ambush interview.

(That’s what the Ombudsman and I talked about last night.)

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla bared that the couple have refused to disclose details of their partnership with CLTG.

According to Remulla, the Discayas said that they knew nothing about the joint venture with the Davao-based firm. 

For his part, Go urged the Discayas to "tell the truth" as he maintained that he had no connections with them nor their flood control projects.

The senator expressed belief that he is being "targeted" amid the investigation into the anomalous flood control projects. 

"Hindi ko po kilala ang mga Discaya, wala po akong kinalaman sa kanila at wala po akong pakialam sa mga Discaya," the senator said in a press conference on Thursday.

(I don't know the Discayas, I have nothing to do with them and I don't care about the Discayas.) 

The senator said he is one with the Filipino people in the fight against corruption and that he is open to any probe regarding the matter. 

"I welcome any investigation. Let the facts speak for themselves. Wala akong tinatago, wala akong kinatatakutan dahil wala akong kasalanan. Hindi ako sangkot sa anumang anomalya," Go said. 

(I'm not hiding anything, I fear nothing because I didn't commit any offense. I am not involved in any anomaly.)

Discayas withdraw

According to Dizon, he and Remulla talked after it was announced that the couple will no longer cooperate with the Palace-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) probing anomalous government projects.

He said Remulla was not happy with the withdrawal.

“Ngayon, we are already working to look at the documents from the previous administration. ‘Yun din naman ang mandate natin. From 2016 to 2025. ‘Yun din naman ang mandate ng ICI. So wala tayong sisinuhin dito,” Dizon.

(Now, we are already working to look at the documents from the previous administration. That is also our mandate—from 2016 to 2025. That is also the mandate of the ICI. So we will not show favoritism here.)

State witnesses

Meanwhile, Dizon believes that the Discaya couple will lose all chance of becoming state witnesses if they continue to refuse to cooperate with the government in its investigation on flood projects.

"Kung hindi sila mag co-cooperate, pasensyahan tayo (If they don't cooperate, then they we have to accept the consequences)," he said.

"Binigyan na nga sila ng pagkakataon ng ICI na mag-cooperate. Pero ngayon na hindi sila magko-cooperate, well, lahat ng mga kaso against them, talagang ano ‘yan. Wala nang possibility na maging state witness or ano," he added.

(The ICI gave them a chance to cooperate. Now they don't want to do that. Well, there are facing legal cases. There is no more possibility for them to become state witnesses.)

Dizon stressed that the couple has numerous contracts dating as far back as 2016.

"Multiple counts of graft, malversation, multiple cases ‘yan," he said.

The BIR has filed multiple tax complaints with the Department of Justice DOJ against the contractor-couple as well as a corporate officer for over P7.1 billion in tax liabilities from 2018 to 2021.

The family business

Go previously said that he has nothing to do with the operations of his family’s businesses. 

He went on to say that he would propose that they be held liable if they had contractual deficiencies or shortcomings.

"Kung mayroon mang pagkukulang o deficiencies or mali, ako mismo ang magrerekomenda sa komiteng ito na kasuhan kayo kahit kasama ang kamag-anak ko,” Go said during the Blue Ribbon committee hearing on September 1.

(If there are any shortcomings or deficiencies or mistakes, I myself will recommend to this committee that you be charged, even if it includes my relatives.)

"At uulitin ko, for the nth time, I have nothing to do with the business of my family. Wala po akong kinalaman sa negosyo nila, I have no involvement in its operations… If meron pong deficiencies at meron silang pagkukulang, ako mismo po ang magrerekomenda sa komiteng na kasuhan sila. Kahit kamag-anak ko, kahit sa anuman pong pagkakamali, kasuhan niyo po sila. I am for accountability, ayaw ko po ng kalokohan kahit kailan,” he added.

(And I will repeat, for the nth time, I have nothing to do with the business of my family. I have no involvement in their business, I have no involvement in its operations… If there are deficiencies and if they have shortcomings, I myself will recommend to the committee that they be charged. Even if they are my relatives, for any wrongdoing, charge them. I am for accountability, I do not tolerate wrongdoing at any time.) 

Meanwhile, ICI spokesperson Brian Hosaka said that the ICI will look into whether there is a need to invite Go to its hearings.

He also remained open to the possibility of requesting an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order for Go.

“The commission always acts based on evidence. So if there’s sufficient evidence or information to request for an ILBO, regardless who that person may be, official might be, then we will request,” he said.— AOL/ VDV, GMA Integrated News