Discayas briefly excused from flood control briefing to get ledgers

Contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya on Friday were temporarily excused by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee from the ongoing hearing on the anomalous flood control projects in order to retrieve documents that supposedly contain information on individuals linked to the scandal. 

During the hearing, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III asked the Discayas for the ledger — which allegedly contains information on the kickbacks that they gave to certain lawmakers and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) — which was previously requested by the blue ribbon panel. 

Curlee, however, said he was not able to retrieve it as he has been detained in Senate premises since he was cited in contempt on September 18. 

“Nakakulong po ako sa detention. Katunayan nga sa ICI nung nakaraan ay humingi po kami ng furlough…na mahanap ko po sana ang mga ledgers na 'yun. Hindi rin po sila gumawa ng sulat sa Senate, ‘yung ICI. Bale hindi ko po na-comply, Your Honor,” he said. 

(I'm in detention. In fact, we asked the ICI before for a furlough...so I could find those ledgers. However, the ICI did not write a letter to the Senate. I was not able to comply, Your Honor.) 

Asked by Sotto why her wife Sarah did not get the ledgers herself since she is not detained at the Senate, Curlee said, “Wala po siyang idea doon sa mga ano po kasi ako po ang may ka-transaction doon sa ibang mga politician po.”

(She has no idea about that because I was the one who had transactions with other politicians.) 

Several senators then started to grill the Discayas for failing to present the ledgers before the blue ribbon committee. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson later on decided to allow the Discayas to temporarily go out of the Senate premises and be escorted by the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to look for the ledgers. 

“Babalik kayo para dalhin ang dokumento, ledger, na nagpapatunay o nagsusuporta sa inyong sinumpaang salaysay na may mga kongresista na may nakatanggap sa inyo…maski sino, lahat,” said Lacson, who also chairs the Senate blue ribbon panel. 

(You will return here to get the documents and ledger that would prove or support your sworn statement that there were congressmen and other personalities who received kickbacks from you.) 

On September 8, the Discayas disclosed the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the DPWH who were allegedly involved in corruption in the country’s flood control projects.

Back then, the Discaya couple told the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing that they are willing to become state witnesses into the investigation. 

Curlee also previously alleged that former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co were mentioned to him repeatedly by at least one politician and DPWH representatives, respectively, in relation to commissions off flood control projects.

Curlee later on clarified that he did not have any personal transactions with the two.

Both Romualdez and Co have denied allegations that they were linked in the flood control scandal. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News