Flood control mess probe to continue even without Discayas - DOJ

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday that the government’s investigation on the anomalies in the flood control projects would still proceed with or without the participation of contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Sarah Discaya.

“As far as we are concerned, we are not dependent on what the Discayas have to say or have to offer. We can proceed with whatever investigation we believe we can go on,” said Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon in a press briefing. 

The Discayas earlier withdrew from cooperating with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on its investigation into the alleged anomalous flood control projects. 

ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said the couple withdrew their cooperation after they saw a media interview of Commissioner Rogelio Singson, where he said that no one has yet qualified to become state witnesses.

The Office of the Ombudsman, meanwhile, said the Discayas have no chance of being state witnesses  because of their deep and widespread involvement in the anomalies. 

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the Discayas “are deemed to be hostile witnesses and can only be charged as respondents.” 

When asked for a comment if the Discayas can still be state witnesses, Fadullon said: “Hostility means that one does not want to cooperate [...] Now yung dito naman sa department kasi, we cannot ascertain yet whether there’s hostility until or up until we see the statements that they have to say.” 

But the prosecutor general was quick to clarify that giving statements or naming individuals won’t easily make one a state witness. 

“Linawagin din po namin na hindi po kasi ‘yan ibig sabihin na kapag ikaw ay magbibigay ng salaysay ay agad-agad makakapag-desisyon ang department kung ikaw ituturing na isang state witness o hindi,” said Fadullon.

(We also want to make it clear that it doesn't simply mean that once you give a statement, the department can immediately decide whether or not to consider you a state witness.) 

“It’s not simply a matter na magbanggit ka lang ng pangalan, kailangan ilahad mo rin yung specifics nito.” 

(It’s not simply a matter of just mentioning a name; you also need to provide the specifics.) —RF, GMA Integrated News