The Senate has ordered five government contractors and three Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials to appear in next week’s continuation of the Blue Ribbon Committee probe into allegedly anomalous flood control projects.
Following the recommendation of Committee Chairperson Senator Rodante Marcoleta, Senate President Francis Escudero approved subpoenas ad testificandum against the following individuals:
- Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II, authorized managing officer of Alpha and Omega General Contractor & Development Corporation
- Darcy Kimel D.J. Respicio, general manager of Darcy & Anna Builders and Trading
- Sally Santos, owner/manager of SYMS Construction Trading
- Maritoni Melegrito, authorized managing officer of Elite General Contractor and Development Corporation
- Edgardo Saggum, owner/manager of Eddmari Construction and Trading
- Engr. Jaypee Mendoza, chief, construction division, Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office
- Engr. Juanito C. Mendoza, accountant III, Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, DPWH
- Engr. Brice Ericson Hernandez, former Bulacan 1st District assistant engineer
Curlee Discaya is the husband of Cezarah Rowena Discaya, who testified before the committee on September 1. Their companies and joint ventures allegedly cornered ₱31 billion worth of flood control projects between 2022 and 2025.
The Commission on Audit (COA), through Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba, has also been directed to submit the agency’s fraud audit highlights on DPWH flood control projects, including the responses of officials flagged in the findings.
“Let the axe fall on all the personalities found guilty of scheming, conniving and carrying out fraudulent acts in the guise of legitimate taxpayer-funded flood control projects,” Escudero declared.
The next Blue Ribbon hearing is scheduled for September 8, where senators are expected to intensify scrutiny of ghost projects and substandard works that may have drained billions from public coffers.