President Bongbong Marcos has instructed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to closely track the location of contractor Sarah Discaya and others charged with corruption, ahead of a looming arrest warrant.
“I have directed the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) and the PNP (Philippine National Police) to ensure that they know the whereabouts of Discaya at nung iba pa para paglabas ng arrest warrant ay maaresto na sila kaagad,” he said in a video.
The Ombudsman filed non-bailable malversation and corruption charges on December 5 against Discaya, St. Timothy Construction executive Maria Roma Angeline Rimando, and eight Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials before the Digos Regional Trial Court.
The case stems from a complaint by the DPWH regarding a ₱96.5 million flood control project in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, awarded to Discaya’s firm in 2022 but never implemented.
“Natuklasan ng Ombudsman ‘’yung mga isinumiteng final billing, certificate of completion at inspection reports ay palsipikado o hindi tumutugma sa aktwal na kalagayan ng proyekto,” Marcos said, noting that submitted photos and videos lacked time stamps and could not be verified.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon had previously flagged the project, which was marked completed in October 2022 and fully paid in early 2023 despite remaining unfinished. The project was awarded during the Duterte administration in 2021.