Members of the Akbayan party-list and youth organizations staged a protest Friday at St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City, one of the companies owned by controversial business couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya.
The company is among the top 15 contractors that received 20-percent of the flood control budget and has been accused of delivering substandard or even non-existent projects.
St. Gerrard Construction is owned by Sarah Discaya, a businesswoman and unsuccessful Pasig City mayoral candidate in the midterm elections, who was recently exposed for her extravagant lifestyle.
The Discaya family also faced criticism from netizens after displaying at least 40 luxury cars they own. They have yet to publicly address these issues.
“The widespread uproar and condemnation of such flagrant displays of wealth by the likes of Discaya is deserved. But more than condemnation–those who embezzle taxpayers’ money should be prosecuted and imprisoned,” said House Deputy Minority Leader and Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña.
“Just like her namesake, this Sarah D also wasn’t ashamed to flaunt her luxuries. Embezzlement is not inspirational. Your SOP (standard operating procedure) on corruption is not for FYP (for you page),” Cendaña added.
The lawmaker also commended inquisitive netizens for helping to unearth evidence of corruption of contractors and public officials.
Cendaña also urged bringing back the policy of publishing the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of public officials to deter corruption. “We should embrace the moral outrage of our citizens,” he said.
Student Council Alliance of the Philippines Secretary General Matthew Silverio underscored the youth’s outrage over the scandal, stressing that public money wasted on ghost projects could have transformed lives.
“While millions are drowning in floods and there are no proper schools, there are contractors drowning in luxury,” Silverio said.
He added that the youth will not remain silent in the face of corruption. “The money that was stolen could have gone to building classrooms, hiring more teachers, and securing a better future for the next generation.
“This isn’t just about unseen flood control projects—it’s about the future of our youth and our nation,” Silverio said.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Wednesday, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto also urged the public not to admire the ostentatious displays of wealth of some individuals. He issued this statement after calling out veteran broadcast journalists for somewhat glamorizing the Discayas’ greedy lifestyle.
“We should pay attention to those kinds of stories and moments. Let’s make it abnormal, let’s make it not inspiring,” Sotto said. “Ostentatious display of wealth is bad regardless of the source,” he emphasized.
