Witnesses claim meeting with Curlee Discaya over alleged Romualdez property

Two witnesses on Monday claimed that they personally met contractor Curlee Discaya in February 2024 after they were told to vacate their place in Forbes Park in Makati City, after it was allegedly purchased by former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 

The witnesses - “Maria” and “Joy” - said that it was their boss, Rico Ocampo, who was the previous tenant of the property involved. It was not until January 29, 2024, that they were copied in an email informing them that they must leave the property by January 31. 

“We were informed by our boss. Parang email po ng law firm tapos cc po kami ng boss namin for us to be aware that we have to leave the place by January 31, 2024, 3 p.m.,” one of the witnesses said during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing on flood control projects. 

(We were informed by our boss. It was like an email from a law firm, then our boss CC’d us so we would be aware that we had to leave the place by January 31, 2024, at 3 p.m.) 

She added that they were not able to comply with the deadline as they failed to immediately clear all the items from the property. 

“Unfortunately,  sa sobrang dami ng gamit, we were not able to comply with the deadline,” she said. 

(Unfortunately, because there was so much stuff, we were not able to comply with the deadline.) 

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Panfilo “Ping” Lacson asked the two witnesses how they met Discaya. The witness said that a certain TJ Conti, who is a property broker, introduced them to the contractor. 

“I was able to talk to your boss, si Rico Ocampo. He made mention na mayroon kayong nakaharap nung you were forcibly being pushed out of the residence. Nabanggit niya si Curlee Discaya. Would you confirm that?” he asked. 

“That was February 1, TJ Conti, he introduced us to the contractor but he didn’t mention the name,” the witness said.

“How did you know that contractor  being referred by TJ Conti is actually Mr. Discaya?” Lacson further asked. 

The witness said they identified Discaya after seeing his face on television during the congressional hearings. 

“Well, actually, sir, we already mentioned to our boss nung lumabas yung mukha ni Mr. Discaya….Sa TV po, when the flood control projects were brought up,” she said. 

(Well, actually, sir, we already mentioned it to our boss when Mr. Discaya’s face appeared... on TV, when the flood control projects were brought up.) 

“Natandaan namin siya because he was the one manning the people, sinabihan pa na tulungan kami para mapabilis yung pag-move out namin.” 

(We remembered him because he was the one manning the people, he even told some people to help us so our move-out would be faster.) 

Lacson later asked the witness to point to Discaya, who was also present in the hearing.

“Pareho kayo na ina-identify niyo na siya mismo yung kaharap ninyo na sinasabing ang may-ari ng bahay ay si Speaker Romualdez at kailangan umalis na kayo?” the senator asked. 

(Are both of you identifying him as the actual person you faced, who said that the owner of the house is Speaker Romualdez and that you needed to leave?) 

The two witnesses both confirmed that it was indeed Discaya whom they met. 

However, the contractor denied the allegations. 

“Your honor, okay lang ba na tanggalin nila yung face mask nila? Sa totoo lang po, hindi ko sila naalala  kahit sa panaginip,” he said. 

(Your honor, is it okay if they remove their face masks? To be honest, I don’t remember them even in my dreams.) 

But Lacson did not like Discaya’s response: “It’s not for you to identify, it’s for them to identify you…That’s your option to deny.” 

Discaya reiterated that he never dealt with a broker to purchase a property in the posh village. 

“Hindi pa po ako nakakapasok sa South Forbes Park, ni hindi ko alam kung anong uri ng mga bahay na mayroon doon…wala akong inuutusan na kahit sinong broker Kasi takot po akong bumili sa mga lugar na ‘yan. Ang kaya ko lang bilhin na lupa ay sa lugar ng Pasig na hindi ganoon kamahal ang presyo ng lupa,” he said. 

(I haven’t even entered South Forbes Park; I don’t even know what kind of houses are there... I haven’t instructed any broker because I’m afraid to buy in those areas. The only land I can afford to buy is in Pasig, where the price of land isn't that expensive.) 

Romualdez earlier denied meeting Discaya and his wife, Sarah, and used them as “front” to buy a high-end property.

In a statement, Romualdez's lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said the claims of the witnesses were "logically and physically impossible."

"The allegations aired in the Senate are logically and physically impossible: Curlee Discaya testified under oath that he has never entered South Forbes Park, making it impossible for him to have approached anyone there or issued any instruction," Fajardo said.

"The claims come solely from the staff of an evicted tenant, unsupported by any document, while Martin Romualdez’s name appears in no deed, contract, or payment record related to the property. There is no evidence—only hearsay and possibly perjured statements —and therefore nothing to answer," he added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News