Sarah Discaya sad over charges, thinking about family —lawyer

Controversial contractor Sarah Discaya is sad over the charges filed against her and can’t help but think of her family while under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation, her lawyer said. 

“Maayos naman siya doon sa taas. Nalulungkot lang siya, siyempre may kasong nai-file sa kanya sa Davao, at dahil doon iniisip niya ang pamilya niya,” said Cornelius Samaniego, the Discayas’ lawyer, in John Consulta’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday. 

(She's doing well. She is just sad because, of course, there is a case filed against her in Davao, and because of that, she is thinking of her family.) 

Samaniego said that Discaya’s surrender will help in her case, but they are also considering her safety. 

“Hindi natin alam kung totoo o hindi, pero mas maganda na yung nakakasiguro. Siyempre ang tao nagagalit sa kanila, at hindi naiintindihan ang sitwasyon. May karapatan silang magalit, pero sa parte nila Ma’am Sarah at Sir Curlee, kailangan din nilang mag-ingat,” he said. 

(We don't know if it's true or not, but it's better to be sure. Of course, people are angry at them and don't understand the situation. They have the right to be angry, but on the part of Ma'am Sarah and Sir Curlee, they also need to be careful.) 

“Hindi na natin pinahirapan ang gobyerno. Ito’y nagpapatunay lang na si Ma’am Sarah, Ma’am Rimando, malinis ang kanilang konsensiya,” Samaniego added. 

(We did not give the government a hard time anymore. This only proves that Ma'am Sarah and Ma'am Rimando have clear consciences.) 

The lawyer added that the restitution - the return of the money or property - was what changed their client's mind, causing the client to withdraw from being a potential state witness.

“Nung nandun na kami, nag-iba na ang ihip ng hangin, kasi restitution naman ngayon ang gusto muna,” said Samaniego. 

(When we were there, the wind changed direction, because restitution is what they want now.) 

“Hindi naman requirement na mag-restitute ka. Korte lang talaga ang nagbibigay ng order kung  magbabayad ka ng civil liabilities o magre-restitute ka ng ganitong amount.” 

(It's not a requirement that you make restitution. Only the court can issue an order on whether you will pay civil liabilities or make restitution of a certain amount.) 

But Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said that even though there’s no law on restitution, it’s just right for the public to reclaim whatever was stolen. 

“I think it’s only right that the people get back whatever they can from those who were responsible for committing the crimes,” he said. “We will not be chasing after them.” 

Meanwhile, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon responded to a recent interview of Discaya wherein she said that she was just only implicated in the ghost project case in Davao Occidental, which had a project cost of P96 million. 

“May kaso na siya, palabas na yung arrest warrant niya, dun siya magpaliwanag sa presinto. Pero para sa amin klarong-klaro  ang ebidensya laban sa kanila,” he said. 

(She already has a case; her arrest warrant is coming out, and she can explain herself in the precinct. But for us, the evidence against them is very clear.) 

The contractor for the said project is the St. Timothy Construction Corporation. Dizon said that while the project was fully paid, nothing was established - this is only one of the ghost projects of the Discayas. 

“Sasabihin niya nadamay lang siya, wala siyang kinalaman. Saan niya nakuha ang pinambili niya ng trentang sasakyan niya kasama yung rolls royce niya?” said Dizon. 

(She will say she was just implicated, that she had no involvement. Where did she get the money to buy her thirty vehicles, including her Rolls-Royce?) 

“In fact, meron na namang ifa-file sinabi ng Ombudsman, yung kaso sa Bulacan kasama din ang St Timothy doon, kasama din siya doon,” he added. 

(In fact, the Ombudsman said they will file another case, the one in Bulacan, where St. Timothy is also included, and she is also included there.) 

Dizon also responded to Discaya’s statement that she feels pity towards her children after she voluntarily went to the NBI. 

“Hindi siya naawa sa bansa? Hindi siya naawa sa mga taong nasa area na dapat may flood control na ghinost project nila na hanggang ngayon binabaha? Siguro dapat doon maawa siya sa mga tao,” he said. 

(Doesn't she pity the people? Doesn't she pity the people in the area who should have had flood control - a project they ghosted—who are still getting flooded until now? Maybe she should pity those people.) 

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said that it doesn’t see any threats to Discaya’s life. 

“We don’t believe there’s a risk for her. Mabuti nga nag-surrender na lang siya kaysa hinahanap eh. Kasi we don’t, we have never considered her as armed and dangerous kung magiing.. Wanted siya. So we would have arrested her in a natural way,” said Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla. 

(We don’t believe there’s a risk for her. It's actually good that she just surrendered instead of being searched for. Because we don't, we have never considered her as armed and dangerous if she was... Wanted. So we would have arrested her in a natural way.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News