Solons deny involvement with Discayas, accusations
Batasan Plenary Hall —INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Several lawmakers whom contractor-couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya named as allegedly among those who asked for a certain percentage of funds from projects denied the accusations, with one noting that the family’s companies did not have a project in his district.
In a statement on Monday, Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona — one of the House lawmakers mentioned by Curlee Discaya during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing earlier — said that he could not recall any of the Discaya companies having an approved project in the district.
According to Madrona, what he knows is that the Discaya companies made a bid in Romblon, but he has no hand in how the bidding was awarded or how contractors were paid.
“I strongly deny the statement of Discaya. To my recollection, I have no project with them, so what is his basis that he gave something to me?” Madrona said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“I heard he bid on projects with our budget in but I have no hand and knowledge on how he pays those involved,” he added.
Madrona was one of the lawmakers that Curlee Discaya mentioned, but the latter was singled out by the contractor when asked by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada to name the House members he had met personally.
“I myself gave the money or ordered someone to do so, then I will contact the official through phone […] Usually it’s through a conversation with the COS [chief of staff], for example, [former] Cong. [Marvin] Rillo, usually I give it to him when we are drinking, or if I see his staff,” Curlee Discaya told the blue ribbon panel.
“Who among these lawmakers that you mentioned are the ones you met to personally hand the money?” Estrada asked.
“For example, with Cong. Madrona, for example, he himself went to our office, and of course, after that, only his staff brought the items, the car, and then I personally do the deposits,” Discaya added.
San Jose del Monte City Mayor Florida Robes, a former House representative of her city, said that she would file a libel charge against Discaya, saying that there was no ghost project in their city.
“Whoever is using my name, have some shame,” Robes said in Filipino. “Many people can see how beautiful San Jose del Monte is now. There are no ghost projects there, and our infrastructure is world-class.
Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela also denied the Discayas’ statements, saying that it was the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that was behind the implementation of infrastructure programs.
Both Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo and Marikina 1st District Rep. Marcelino Teodoro also denied their involvement with the Discayas. Teodoro said he would file perjury charges against the contractor.
During his speech at the blue ribbon committee, Discaya named several congressmen and DPWH officials who allegedly solicited money from his companies after they won a contract for government projects.
Discaya named the following officials:
- Terrence Calatrava, former undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas of the Philippines
- Pasig Rep. Romulo
- Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. Jojo Ang
- Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas
- Quezon City Rep. Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde
- Agap party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones
- Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro
- San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes
- Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona
- Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr.
- former An-Waray party-list Rep. Florencio Noel
- Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia
- former Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo
- Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela
- Aklan Rep. Teodoro Haresco
- former Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Antonieta Eudela
- Caloocan Rep. Dean Asistio
- Quezon City Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar
“We had no choice because if we didn’t cooperate, they would create problems for the project awarded to us through mutual termination or right-of-way issues, both of which would prevent the project from being implemented. After we won the bidding, some DPWH officials approached us to ask for and take their share of the project amount,” Discaya said.
“The percentage they demanded ranged from no less than 10% and went up to 25%, which became a condition to ensure the contract’s implementation would not be hindered,” he added.
Discaya also said the following DPWH officials are involved in the flood control mess:
- Regional Director Eduarte Virgilio of DPWH Region 5
- Director Ramon Arriola III of Unified Project Management Offices (UPMO)
- District Engineer Henry Alcantara of DPWH Bulacan 1st
- Undersecretary Robert Bernardo
- District Engineer Aristotle Ramos of DPWH Metro Manila 1st
- District Engineer Manny Bulusan of DPWH North Manila DEO
- District Engineer Edgargo Pingol of DPWH Bulacan sub-DEO
- District Engineer Michael Rosaria of DPWH Quezon 2nd DEO
“Most of the DPWH officials mentioned repeatedly stated that the money should be delivered to Zaldy Co, and it should be at least 25 percent. As for Cong. Marvin Rillo, he mentioned several times the name of Speaker Martin Romualdez as his close friend,” Discaya noted.
