Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan warned Monday that business couple Cezarah and Pacifico Discaya—also known as Sarah and Curlee—would not qualify for witness protection if their sworn statement on the flood control controversy turns out to be incomplete or manipulated.
“It must be the whole truth. Cover-ups cannot be granted witness protection. A liar is the brother of a thief,” Pangilinan said.
The Discayas submitted a sworn affidavit before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that identified lawmakers and government officials alleged to have demanded money from questionable projects.
Pangilinan pointed out that the couple’s testimony only named individuals from 2022 onward, despite their companies having participated in infrastructure deals since 2016.
He emphasized that any attempt to present an “edited” or “doctored” version of events would undermine their bid to serve as state witnesses in the investigation.
The Blue Ribbon Committee, which convened on September 8, is leading the inquiry into irregularities in flood control projects funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The investigation also seeks to determine if systemic corruption in the agency has allowed contractors to exploit loopholes and enrich themselves at the public’s expense.
Senators are expected to call more witnesses in the coming weeks as the probe widens to include other companies that secured large-scale government contracts.
