DOJ: Sarah Discaya requested temporary release from NBI to attend hearing

Contractor Sarah Discaya requested to be temporarily released from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to attend a hearing in Malabon City, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Tuesday.

According to the DOJ, Discaya has a scheduled hearing before the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) Malabon over a case filed by the Malabon City government.

“She requested the NBI for temporary release to attend the hearing and to secure all documents necessary,” Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said.

Martinez said the hearing was scheduled at 1 p.m. today.

In an ambush interview, Martinez said the complaint was for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as well as felony or theft.

Meanwhile, NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari said Discaya has a letter addressed to NBI Director Lito Magno asking for permission to attend the hearing and to be accompanied by the NBI.

Mallari said she made a “commitment to return to the Bureau premises immediately after the event.”

For his part, Martinez denied that Discaya is receiving preferential treatment, saying that her liberty is already limited.

“The fact that her liberty is now being restrained despite the absence of a warrant of arrest means the government is actually taking steps forward to be able to make sure that she and any person involve in these cases are held accountable” he said. 

“Wala pong preferential treatment. In fact, the fact that her liberty is now being restrained despite the absence of a warrant of arrest means that the government is actually taking steps forward to be able to make sure that she or any person caught in this case are held accountable,” he said.

According to Dano Tingcungco’s report in “24 Oras”, the hearing only lasted for a few minutes and Discaya immediately left while being secured by the NBI personnel. 

The controversial contractor did not give any comments as well as her lawyer.

“Wala pong preferential treatment. In fact, the fact that her liberty is now being restrained despite the absence of a warrant of arrest means that the government is actually taking steps forward to be able to make sure that she or any person caught in this case are held accountable,” he said.

Magno previously said that Discaya may still leave the NBI premises as there is still no warrant of arrest issued against her.

Discaya surrendered to the bureau last week after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that an arrest warrant is set to be issued against her over anomalous flood control projects.

Her camp has said that this was a “strategic legal move” and not an admission of wrongdoing. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ/RF, GMA Integrated News