Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said he was not surprised that contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya refused to cooperate with the ongoing investigation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI).
This came after ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson stated that none of the individuals currently under the commission’s scrutiny are qualified to become state witnesses.
According to Remulla, the Discaya couple has only been sharing limited information, hinting that they might be protecting certain individuals involved in the controversy.
The Ombudsman was referring to the joint ventures between the Discayas’ firm, St. Gerrard Construction, and CLTG Builders, a company owned and managed by the father and brother of Senator Bong Go. These partnerships reportedly began in 2017, during Go’s tenure as Special Assistant to then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
The matter was cited in the Department of Justice’s evaluation of the Discayas’ potential as state witnesses and the case buildup related to the probe.
Remulla confirmed that his office has already coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regarding the ongoing investigation.
He further alleged that aside from Go, the Discayas may also be shielding Senator Mark Villar and former Senator Cynthia Villar, both of whom were linked to infrastructure projects during the Duterte administration.
Mark Villar served as DPWH Secretary from 2016 to 2021, before winning a Senate seat in 2022.