Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto warned the public not to fall for what he described as propaganda portraying contractors Cezarah Rowena ‘Sarah’ and Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya as mere “small fish” or among the “victims” in the anomalous multibillion-peso flood control mess.
According to Sotto, even from behind bars, the Discayas have enough clout to threaten congressmen and former employees who may testify against them.
In a video statement posted on Saturday, December 20, Sotto claimed that multiple individuals have informed him that the couple continues to intimidate former employees of their various companies, who they believe possess sensitive information that could expose the extent of their roles in anomalous flood control projects.
“Several people have told me that they still intimidate their former employees so that they won’t testify against them,” the city mayor said in Filipino.
He also disclosed that two congressmen informed him that the Discayas solicited cash in exchange for not being included in the “ledger.”
Sotto referenced a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) indicating that bank accounts linked to just four of their nine companies recorded inflows exceeding P180 billion.
“As AMLC reported, bank accounts related to just four of their nine companies had inflows of over P180 billion. If we examine closely, they are not just contractors, they became instigators,” he said in mix of English and Tagalog.
Sotto also highlighted their operations spanned several administrations with companies named after the Discaya children, as well as multimillion- to multibillion-peso properties, which meant that the entire family are involved in this mess.
The mayor cited records showing that large contracts from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were awarded to these entities. He pointed out that in 2022 and 2023, Matthew and Gerrard Discaya registered a one-person corporation at the age of just 18.
Additionally, some properties are listed under the names of minors, with at least one land title explicitly indicating that the owner was only 17 years old.
“Mr. & Mrs. Discaya, hindi lang kayo nagnakaw. Tinulungan at tinuruan niyo pa ang mga anak ninyong magnakaw (Mr. and Mrs. Discaya, you didn’t just steal (public funds), you also encouraged and taught your children to steal),” Sotto said.
The mayor shared his thoughts after Mrs. Discaya was formally served a warrant of arrest, noting that this development is a “good start” in the government’s fight against corruption in flood control projects.
Sarah, as well as her niece Roma Rimando, other co-accused were charged with graft and malversation of public funds related to a P96.5-million flood control project in Davao Occidental awarded to St. Timothy Construction Corp.
The National Bureau of Investigation facilitated Sarah Discaya’s transfer to Cebu, where she arrived on Saturday, December 20.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “‘No victim:’ Mayor Vico shares thoughts on Sarah Discaya’s arrest”
