Curlee Discaya, others charged over 'anomalous' Bulacan flood control projects

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft and malversation cases against embattled contractor Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II and 10 others over their links to an alleged anomalous flood control project in Calumpit, Bulacan.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the announcement during a press briefing on Thursday.

"Pormal nang sinampahan ng kaso si Curlee Discaya at iba pang opisyal ng DPWH na sangkot sa maanomalyang flood control projects sa Bulusan, Calumpit, Bulacan kaninang umaga sa Malolos Regional Trial Court sa Bulacan," Castro said.

(Curlee Discaya and other DPWH officials involved in the anomalous flood control projects in Bulusan, Calumpit, Bulacan were formally charged this morning at the Malolos Regional Trial Court in Bulacan.)

She said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon and Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano led the filing of cases for:

• Violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
• Criminal charges of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents

"Naalala natin ang mga Discaya ay namayagpag sa kanilang mga proyekto noong taon pang 2016," Castro said.

(We could recall that the Discayas had a lot of projects beginning 2016.)

For his part, Dizon expressed satisfaction with the filing of charges against Discaya, who is under the Senate’s custody after he was cited in contempt.

“Finally din, maaresto na rin siya tulad ng kanyang asawa at tulad din ng mga kakuntsaba nila,” said Dizon in Marisol Abdurahman’s report in “24 Oras.”

(Finally, he will also be arrested just like his spouse and their accomplices.)

“Ang Discaya parang Napoles ‘yan dito sa flood control scam. Talagang malaking isda ‘yan. 2016 pa lang nago-operate na sila, bilyon-bilyong piso ang kanilang nakalap,” he added.

(The Discayas are like the Napoles of this flood control scam. They are truly big fish. They have been operating since 2016 and have amassed billions of pesos.)

Curlee Discaya has been detained at the Senate since September 2025, after being cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee during one of the hearings on the anomalous flood control projects.

The latest case involves a P54 million-worth flood control project covering three barangays in the town of Calumpit.

“Ito yung mga flood control na binaboy. Yung tatlong barangay sa Calumpit, hanggang ngayon, taon-taon, binabaha pa rin. Yung mga kababayan natin, kahit summer binabaha doon,” said Dizon.

(These are the flood control projects that were totally botched. Those three barangays in Calumpit are still flooded every single year up to this day. Our fellow citizens there experience flooding even during the summer.)

Investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman showed that the project's first billing was settled even without an approved disbursement voucher, according to the television report.

The investigation also showed that the accused officials permitted contractors to take the funds. This is a clear case of malversation of public funds, authorities noted.

“The prosecution will now proceed to the trial phase, where evidence will be presented,” said Clavano.

Further, Dizon is confident that Discaya and the other accused will be convicted: “Base sa ebidensya, oo. (Based on the evidence, yes.)”

Authorities are just waiting for the arrest warrant against the accused individuals.

Meanwhile, Dizon said that the said project in Calumpit is now being repaired.

GMA News is trying to reach out to Discaya and the other accused persons for their comments on the matter. —with a report from Vince Angelo Ferreras/VDV/RF, GMA News