Eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Occidental have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation-Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO) over their alleged involvement in a ghost flood control project in the province.

Their surrender came after the contractor, Sarah Discaya, turned herself in to NBI before the court released her arrest warrant for malversation and graft.

The surrender is in connection to the P96.5 million ghost flood control project in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos town purportedly handled by her company, St. Timothy Construction Corporation.

However, Discaya’s spokesperson clarified that her surrender does not constitute an admission of guilt.

“Hindi naman admission of guilt kasi korte lang ang magtatakda ng guilt ng isang akusado o respondent sa isang kaso. Sumuko siya dahil alam niyang malinis ang kanyang konsensya at kaya niyang harapin ang anumang legal na proseso patungkol dito sa kasong isinampa sa kanila sa Digos RTC,” Discaya’s spokesperson, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego, said.

Discaya’s camp also maintained that there is no ghost project handled by the company, citing photos and documents submitted in their counter-affidavit as proof.

“Ang project na iyan tapos na iyan. Nakuha iyan ng St. Timothy noong 2022, nagkaroon ng construction agad...ang problema nagkaroon din ng mga pagbaha sa mga lugar na iyon, nasira, ni-repair...nasalanta na naman ng bagyo, nasira, ni-repair ulit,” Samaniego said.

“Last month, nakumpleto na iyan base sa mga document na ibinigay ng public respondent coming from DPWH Davao occidental. Ang pamilya Discaya walang mga ghost project o substandard project,” he added.

Aside from Discaya, eight other officials of DPWH in Davao Occidental also surrendered to NBI-SEMRO in Davao City.

NBI said the eight DPWH Davao Occidental officials submitted letters of voluntary surrender. They are now under the custody of NBI as they begin to face legal proceedings.

They will be brought to the court once the arrest warrants are issued.

Discaya’s niece and official of her company, Maria Roma Angeline Rimando, also reportedly surrendered to the Pasay City Police.

The complaint was originally filed at the Digos Regional Trial Court (RTC) and later transferred to the Anti-Graft Regional Trial Court in Malita, Davao Occidental.