The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it remains unsatisfied with the statements provided by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya regarding alleged irregularities in the government’s flood control projects.
“Patuloy naman po ang kanilang pagprisenta. Sa nakalipas na panahon, hanggang ngayon, wala pa po tayo sa estado na masaya na sa kanilang inilalahad,” said DOJ Officer-in-Charge Fredderick Vida in a press briefing.
The Discaya couple appeared before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on September 30, where they reportedly shared what they knew about the supposed anomalies in flood control contracts.
However, Vida said the DOJ will closely examine the couple’s so-called “tell-all” testimonies, citing concerns that their disclosures might be selective or intentionally withholding certain details.
“Ang kailangang pag-aralan ng kagawaran ay kung may good faith ba? Talaga bang inilalahad niya o siya ay nagiging selective lang sa kanyang pinapangalanan?” he explained.
The couple is currently under witness protection, and the DOJ is still evaluating whether they can be granted full state witness status.
Vida assured the public that the filing of cases against those involved in the anomalous flood control projects will continue with or without state witnesses.
“The timeline is already set. If we don’t find that as something satisfactory, we will file the appropriate cases with or without state witnesses,” he said. “We will build the cases based on evidence we have, and we assure the public that only strong cases will be filed,” Vida added.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon emphasized that the DOJ need not wait for a complete “tell-all” before determining who qualifies as a state witness.
“Depending on the number of cases that will be filed, we will also determine whether or not they will be qualified for state witness status in those cases,” Fadullon explained.
Aside from the Discaya couple, other individuals under witness protection include contractor Sally Santos and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza.