Sotto: Search for accountability must not stop with Sarah Discaya arrest

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Friday stood firm that the search for accountability in the flood control controversy must not stop with the arrest of embattled contractor Sarah Discaya. 

In a virtual interview with Senate reporters, Sotto said other big fishes, such as lawmakers and other government officials linked with the anomalous flood control projects, should be held responsible. 

"Lahat ng nag-walang hiya sa pera ng taong bayan dapat talagang managot. Lalo na ang mga malalaki… Malalaki tinaga at saka malalaking mga tao. Hindi ba dapat? Hindi naman magiging malaki ang taga mo kung hindi ka malaking tao eh. Gan'un 'yun sigurado," he said. 

(All those who abused public funds should be held accountable, especially the big fishes and those who pocketed huge amounts of money. These people won't take large slices of the pie if they are not big personalities. That's for sure.) 

Sotto also said he understands why the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman are taking a while to do their jobs in pursuing implicated personalities in the flood control scandal.

"Siyempre 'yung mga pinadala namin mga impormasyon galing sa Blue Ribbon, galing sa ICI, vina-validate nila 'yan. So, hindi ako nagtataka, nade-delay. Pero sa akin lang 'yun, personal note," he said. 

(Of course, they are still validating the information we sent from the Blue Ribbon and from the ICI. So, I'm not surprised that there is a delay. But that's just me.) 

Discaya, owner of St. Timothy Construction, was formally served the warrant by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday as she turned herself in to the bureau several days back in anticipation of the warrant of arrest. 

Maria Roma Rimando, the president of the construction company, was also arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Their arrests were based on charges of corruption and malversation of funds in connection with the P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.

The PNP earlier said that a nationwide manhunt for the remaining co-accused of Discaya has been launched. — VDV, GMA Integrated News