The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed by detained government contractor Sarah Discaya, which sought to challenge the findings of the Office of the Ombudsman.
In a resolution released Friday, April 10, the High Court upheld the Ombudsman’s determination of probable cause against Discaya for alleged violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as for malversation through falsification of public documents.
“The SC dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya (Discaya) challenging the Office of the Ombudsman’s finding of probable cause against her…,” the Court stated, adding that the petition had already become moot after the Ombudsman filed the corresponding Informations before the Regional Trial Court, which subsequently issued a warrant of arrest.
The High Court also noted that the Ombudsman’s findings were supported by substantial evidence.
Discaya surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation in October 2025 after allegations surfaced linking her construction firms to anomalous flood control projects.
In January 2026, she and nine co-accused entered not guilty pleas before a court in connection with alleged ₱96.5 million worth of “ghost” infrastructure projects in Davao Occidental.
During the same proceedings, the accused also pleaded not guilty to graft and malversation charges. However, Lapu-Lapu City RTC Branch 27 Judge Nelson Leyco denied their motion to quash.