Business couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya declined to give any comment regarding the looming ₱300 billion penalty that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to impose on them in connection with the flood control scandal.
On Saturday, October 4, the Discayas appeared once again before the Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of the continuing case build-up of the alleged multibillion-peso corruption.
Both refused to respond when asked by the media about the massive fine linked to flood control projects they had allegedly cornered from 2016 to 2025.
Last Friday, October 3, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon revealed that the Discayas had bagged 1,214 contracts for flood control projects, amounting to nearly the equivalent of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) annual budget.
“1,214 flood control projects of Discaya from 2016 to 2025. It’s roughly close to ₱80 billion (₱77.934 billion),” Dizon said. “So yari sila, mas malaki pa pala yung penalty nila (₱300 bilyon) doon sa contract amount na ‘yan. The maximum penalty is ₱250 million per contract. But I guess, that depends on how much the contract is.”
He added, “Ganto lang, ang budget ng buong Department of Transportation (DOTr) in 2025 ay ₱80 billion lang. So yung kontrata palang nina Discaya, mas malaki na sa budget ng buong DOTr for one year.”
Currently, the Discaya couple is under the provisional coverage of the Witness Protection Program, along with former DPWH officials including Engr. Brice Hernandez, Engr. Henry Alcantara, Jaypee Mendoza, and former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.