Curlee Discaya moved to Bulacan jail over graft case
CITY OF MALOLOS — Contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya was transferred Monday to the Bulacan Provincial Jail after spending more than nine months in Senate custody while facing non-bailable charges of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.
Discaya and 10 others, including several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office, are accused of irregularities in a P54-million flood-control project in Calumpit town.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla led police officials during Discaya’s transfer from the Senate to Bulacan. He arrived at the Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) compound shortly before Discaya, who was fetched from the Senate at around 7 a.m.
READ: Remulla turns over Curlee Discaya to Bulacan jail
The case will be heard by Judge Mirasol Ong Dychingco of RTC Branch 20.
Remulla said nine of the 11 accused have been arrested, including Discaya and his wife, Sara Rowena Discaya, who is being held in Cebu. Two other respondents, Ernesto Galang and Lorenzo Pagtalunan, remain at large.
READ: Curlee Discaya arrested for malversation
“It is up to the court to decide where he will be detained, but this shows that Discaya will be treated like any ordinary person deprived of liberty and not as a VIP,” Remulla told reporters.
Discaya’s lawyer, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego said they would seek bail, arguing that the prosecution’s evidence is not strong.
“Even in non-bailable cases, the court may grant bail if the evidence of guilt is not strong,” he said.
Samaniego said Discaya was saddened by his detention, claiming that his client had cooperated with authorities and exposed alleged irregularities within the DPWH. Despite this, he said Discaya is prepared to face the charges.
The lawyer also confirmed that Discaya intends to identify at least 150 more individuals allegedly linked to the flood-control project controversy.
“He had time to reflect during his detention and gradually recalled the names. We will wait for him to disclose them,” Samaniego said./coa
