Ombudsman Remulla says Discayas 'possibly' protecting Villars 

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday that he’s not surprised that the contractor couple, Pacifico “Curlee” and Sarah Discaya, have refused to cooperate with the investigation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI). 

This was after ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson earlier said that none of the individuals currently facing the commission has qualified to become a state witness. 

“Evasive talaga siya. Hindi niya talaga sasabihin lahat. Selective lang. Meron siyang selective recall ng mga bagay-bagay,” said Remulla in Saleema Refran’s report in “24 Oras.” 

(He is truly evasive. He really won't say everything. It's only selective. He has a selective recall of things.) 

Remulla said that the Discayas were only providing a few information reportedly because they could be protecting certain individuals involved in the case.

“He's protecting people, like Bong Go. Kasi nga, yung joint venture nila, eight projects worth P800 million. Doon sila nagsimulang lumaki. But they will not talk about it,” he said. 

(He's protecting people, like Bong Go. Because, their joint venture involves eight projects worth P800 million. That's where they started to grow. But they will not talk about it.) 

The Ombudsman is referring to the joint ventures entered into by the Discayas' firm, St. Gerrard Construction, and CLTG Builders, a contractor managed by the father and sibling of Senator Bong Go. 

These joint ventures occurred starting in 2017, during the time when Go was serving as Special Assistant to then-President Rodrigo Duterte. The said issue was raised during the state witness evaluation on the Discayas and case buildup conducted by the Department of Justice, according to the report. 

“Sinasabi nila they have to go through a mediator. Tapos lisensya lang daw ang ginamit nila, ang ginamit nung kabila. Hindi daw siya nakialam, binigyan daw siya ng 3% parang gano'n. Hindi ako naniniwala. Hindi siya ganun eh. Hustler yan,” said Remulla. 

(They are saying they have to go through a mediator. Then they claim their license was just used, it was used by the other party. He supposedly did not intervene; he was reportedly given 3%—something like that. I don't believe that. He's not like that. He's a hustler.) 

The Office of the Ombudsman is already coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regarding the investigation on the matter. 

“We are looking at connections between the Discayas and CLTG corporation…Ang daming kontrata ng mga Discaya. Libo,” said DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon. 

(We are looking at connections between the Discayas and CLTG corporation…The Discayas have so many contracts. Thousands.) 

“At meron na kaming plano at meron na kaming mga gagawin sa mga susunod na araw to look at those, specifically, at those contracts of the Discayas during the previous administration.” 

(And we already have a plan and we already have things we will do in the coming days to look at those, specifically, at those contracts of the Discayas during the previous administration.) 

But aside from Go, Remulla believes that the Discayas could also be protecting Senator Mark Villar and his mother Cynthia Villar. 

“That’s a possibility lang,” he said. 

(That’s just a possibility.) 

To recall, Mark Villar served as DPWH secretary during the Duterte administration from 2016 to 2021. 

“Nung secretary si Mark doon sila lumaki, doon sila nakakuha ng napakaraming project. That's where they.. they really raked it in nung secretary si Mark…Hindi pwedeng hindi alam ni Mark ‘yan,” said Remulla. 

(They grew big when Mark was secretary, that's when they got a massive number of projects. That's where they... they really raked it in when Mark was secretary... Mark couldn't possibly not know that.) 

When asked about Cynthia Villar, Remulla said: “Wala pa akong direct evidence diyan pero yung stay kasi ni Mark and knowing the Discayas became very big during that time, they sought favor with these people. Gustong gusto nila ‘in’ sila. Hindi naman sila magiging ‘in’ kung hind sila gagawa ng extra effort.” 

(I don't have direct evidence there yet, but because of Mark’s stay and knowing the Discayas became very big during that time, they sought favor with these people. They really wanted to be 'in.' They wouldn't be 'in' if they didn't make an extra effort.) 

The Office of the Ombudsman is also looking into the projects that went to the sibling of former Senator Bong Revilla.

“Kapatid niya kasi yung contractor nila eh. Kapatid niya, si Princess Revilla, aka Rebecca B. Ocampo, Rebecca Bautista Ocampo, na si Princess Revilla. Siya ang contractor ng lahat ng projects nila,” said Remulla. 

(Because his sibling is their contractor. His sister, Princess Revilla, aka Rebecca B. Ocampo, Rebecca Bautista Ocampo, who is Princess Revilla. She is the contractor for all of their projects.) 

“You're talking about Bong, Lani and the children. Kasama lahat yan. Mabigat yan, mabigat.” 

(You're talking about Bong, Lani and the children. They're all included. That's serious, that's serious.) 

But besides the aforementioned individuals, there are other politicians, whose names have not yet been revealed, who possibly also received kickbacks

“May nakukuha kaming AMLA document ng ilang transaksyon na nag-remit yung top contractor ng pera sa dalawang congressman. Yung isa, P75 million, thereabouts. Yung isa P25 million,” said Remulla, noting that these are “sitting” congressmen. 

(We have received an AMLA document showing several transactions where the top contractor remitted money to two congressmen. One received P75 million, thereabouts. The other, P25 million.) 

Aside from the Discayas, Remulla also believes that former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo is also protecting certain individuals. 

“He’s protecting some other interests upstairs na meron pa siyang pino-protektahan. Kasi Usec na siya, siya nagsasabi pinaka operator noong panahon ni Duterte, kaya alam niya lahat ‘yan,” he said. 

(He’s protecting some other interests upstairs, he is still protecting someone. Because he was an undersecretary, he claims to be the main operator during the time of Duterte, so he knows all of it.) 

Meanwhile, Remulla refuted Vice President Sara Duterte's claim that the ongoing investigation was solely focused on individuals from the Duterte administration.

“Siyempre, yung ang lagi nilang propaganda, kasi ayaw nilang maabot sila ng investigation. Eh maaabot sila kahit anong gawin nila, maaabot sila eh. Kasi ang AMLA is there eh. The Anti-Money Laundering Council keeps records. And it keeps records of everybody,” he said. 

(Of course, that is always their propaganda, because they don’t want the investigation to reach them. But the investigation will reach them whatever they do, it will reach them. Because the AMLA is there. The Anti-Money Laundering Council keeps records. And it keeps records of everybody.) 

GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to the Villars and the Revillas for comments. Meanwhile, Go said that his conscience is clear and is ready to face the ICI. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News