Dizon: Non-bailable cases vs. Discayas near filing; DPWH probing 2016 contracts

The government is close to filing non-bailable criminal cases against contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya, as authorities widen their probe into alleged anomalous infrastructure projects and possible links to CLTG Corporation, the Department of Public Works and Highways said Thursday.

In a press conference, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the DPWH, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Ombudsman, through the Inter-Agency Committee on Infrastructure (ICI), are working together to ensure that those involved in alleged fund misuse are held accountable.

“Finally, gusto ko rin i-iterate na base sa pag-uusap namin ng ating napakabilis at napakatapang na ombudsman, si Ombudsman Boying Remulla, kahapon after nung pagsasabi ng mga Discaya na nakakatawa lang, yung hindi daw sila willing mag-cooperate—ang dami nga nilang kaso eh, sila nga yung unang kinasuhan natin eh.”

(Finally, I want to reiterate that based on my discussion yesterday with our very quick and brave Ombudsman Boying Remulla, after the Discayas said they were unwilling to cooperate—it’s ironic because they already have many cases; they were actually the first ones we charged.)

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) earlier filed multiple tax complaints before the DOJ against the couple and a corporate officer over P7.1 billion in unpaid taxes from 2018 to 2021.

Dizon said Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told him that the filing of criminal cases is almost complete and that the charges would be non-bailable.

“Nagtitiwala tayo na talagang bibilisan ni Ombudsman Boying ito at sinabi nga niya konti na lang at ma-file na yung kasong ‘yan. At alam naman nating lahat non-bailable ‘yan,” he expressed. 

(We trust that Ombudsman Boying will act quickly, and he told me that the filing of the case is almost complete. We all know that this is a non-bailable offense.)

The DPWH chief said he expects long-awaited accountability for the Discayas and their associates.

“Makikita na natin yung matagal nang inaasam-asam ng ating mga kababayan na makulong na itong mga Discaya at sila Alcantara et al, dahil nga sa grabing pagnanakaw nila simula dun sa kasong finile natin sa Bulacan,” Dizon said. 

(We will soon see what our countrymen have long been waiting for the imprisonment of the Discayas and Alcantara group for their massive theft, starting from the case we filed in Bulacan.)

Contracts from 2016

Dizon revealed that his department has started reviewing all Discaya contracts awarded since 2016, following their admission before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that their projects and profits surged from that year onward.

“Kami ay ngayon ay nagsimula nang tignan ang mga kontrata ng mga Discaya simula 2016 onwards, dahil sila mismo naman sa Blue Ribbon inamin nila, dumami ang kanilang kontrata simula 2016,” he noted. 

(We have started reviewing the Discayas’ contracts from 2016 onwards, since they themselves admitted at the Blue Ribbon hearing that their projects multiplied starting that year.)

He said the agency is also investigating the Discayas’ possible links to CLTG Corporation, after Ombudsman Remulla raised allegations that the company might be connected to a senator.

“Aparte diyan, titignan na rin natin ang posibleng mga koneksyon ng Discaya sa CLTG Corporation na sinabi nga ni Ombudsman Boying kahapon eh parang may allegations na konektado kay Senator Bong Go,” he added. 

(Aside from that, we are also looking into possible connections between the Discayas and CLTG Corporation, which, according to Ombudsman Boying yesterday, allegedly has links to Senator Bong Go.)

Dizon said these probes are being carried out with full coordination among government agencies, emphasizing that more developments are expected soon.

“Sa tulong at kooperasyon ng siyempre ng ICI at ng Ombudsman... sa mga susunod na araw marami tayong pang mga ibang gagawing update.”

(With the help and cooperation of the ICI and the Ombudsman, we’ll have more updates in the coming days.)

Despite the ongoing investigations, he said the DPWH continues to focus on its core mission of building and repairing vital infrastructure, especially in calamity-hit areas.

“Kailangan din natin gawin yung trabaho ng DPWH, which is to build better, sabi nga ng Pangulo, kasi kailangan natin ng maayos na infrastructure,” he said. 

(We also need to continue doing our job at DPWH, which is to build better, as the President says, because we need sound infrastructure.)

Sarah and Curlee Discaya are among the contractors implicated in alleged irregularities in DPWH flood control projects. The couple and a corporate officer face BIR complaints for ?7.1 billion in unpaid taxes from 2018 to 2021. Dizon’s remarks mark the first public confirmation that the DPWH is reviewing all Discaya-linked contracts dating back to 2016, alongside the Ombudsman and DOJ. — BM, GMA Integrated News