THE DISCAYAS, a wealthy couple with lucrative contracts to substandard government flood control projects, have named several lawmakers and public works officials in what they claimed was a systemic racket siphoning off billions in taxpayers’ money.
During the third Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the flood control projects, Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya said congressmen and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials demanded cuts—often as high as 30%—from projects meant to address the country’s chronic flooding problem.
The lawmakers mentioned were:
- Rep. Roman Romulo (Lone District, Pasig)
- Rep. Jojo Ang (USWAG ILONGGO Partylist)
- Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas (Fifth District, Quezon City)
- Rep. Arjo Atayde (First District, Quezon City)
- Rep. Nicanor “Nikki” Briones (AGAP Partylist)
- Rep. Marcelino Teodoro (First District, Marikina)
- Rep. Florida Robes (Lone District, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan)
- Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Lone District, Romblon)
- Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr. (Fourth District, Laguna)
- Rep. Florencio Gabriel Noel (An Waray Partylist)
- Rep. Leody “Odie” Tarriela (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro)
- Rep. Marvin Rillo (Fourth District, Quezon City)
- Rep. Reynante Arrogancia (Third District, Quezon City)
- Rep. Teodoro Haresco (Second District, Aklan)
- Former Rep. Antonieta Eudela (Second District, Zamboanga Sibugay)
- Rep. Dean Asistio (Third District, Caloocan City)
- Rep. Marivic Co Pilar (Sixth District, Quezon City)
The Discayas’ sworn statement also included the name of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was mentioned by other representatives in their supposed meetings with the contractors.
Higher percentages for kickbacks were apparently given with the speaker’s blessing, the statement said.
“Dagdag pa niya, hindi naman lahat ng pera ay para sa kanya (Rep. Jojo Ang) kundi para kay Speaker at Zaldy Co,” it added.
The Discayas, who own nine construction firms, claimed that officials “used” them to get huge kickbacks.
“Paulit-ulit kaming [Discayas] ginamit ng mga nasa pwesto sa sistemang ito. Wala kaming magawa dahil kung hindi kami makikisama, gagawan nila ng problema ang project na na-award sa amin,” their statement claimed.
Manipulative schemes to force kickbacks included termination of contracts, right of way (ROW) problems, and non-release of payments.
The Discayas also said the chiefs of staff of the lawmakers, as well as officials from the DPWH, had threatened them with blacklisting if they did not pay up.
“Dapat tanggapin namin ang realidad na dapat kaming magbayad sa mga mambabatas kung gusto pa naming magpatuloy na magkaroon ng projects sa gobyerno,” they said.
“Kung hindi, binabala nila na matatanggal sa listahan ang kumpanya namin at hindi na makakakuha ng kahit anong proyekto,” they added.
The statement mentioned the names of officials from DPWH who asked for a 25% cut in the budget for projects in their districts:
- Regional Director Eduarte Virgilio of DPWH Region V
- Director Ramon A. Arriola III of Unified Project Management Offices (UPMO)
- District Engineer Henry Alcantara of DPWH Bulacan 1st District
- Undersecretary Robert Bernardo
- District Engineer Aristotle Ramos of DPWH Metro Manila 1st
- District Engineer Manny Bulusan of DPWH North Manila DEO
- District Engineer Edgardo C. Pingol of DPWH Bulacan Sub-District Engineering Office (DEO)
- District Engineer Michael Rosaria of DPWH Quezon 2nd DEO
According to the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, which lists government flood control projects, Bulacan has the largest number of such contracts, with 668 pending projects.
In a sworn statement, the Discayas also tagged former House appropriations chair Zaldy Co, who, they said, was often mentioned by the lawmakers as a recipient of the bribe money.
Co, representative of Ako-Bicol Partylist, allegedly approved insertions to the 2025 budget for flood control, amounting to P13 billion.
The representative, who is in the United States for a medical treatment amid pending congressional inquiries, owns two contracting firms that have amassed P15.7 billion in contracts since 2022.
An investigative report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) said the Discayas, who also own Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp., placed second on the list of 15 contractors who had bagged 20% of the total budget for flood control since 2022.
Alpha & Omega got P7.3 billion, while another Discaya-owned company, St. Timothy Construction Corp., bagged P7.04 billion in contracts.
Firms linked to the Discayas were awarded a total of P31 billion in projects throughout the country.
The Discayas said they were willing to become state witnesses, as they raised concerns over their security.
Lawmakers tagged by the Discayas denied the allegations.
Romualdez has denied the allegations, saying the invocation of his name was done “without his knowledge and consent.”
“And I say this with all honesty: I have never, and I will never, accept a bribe from anybody. Walang sinuman ang kanyang manuhol sa akin,” Romualdez said.
Representatives Madrona and Romulo said that they never imposed conditions on the couple, with the former claiming that the projects in his district went through bidding.
Teodoro, a neophyte representative, claimed he knew nothing of the deals, as he was still mayor of Marikina at the time.
Atayde slammed the accusations, calling them “falsehoods,” and said he would hold the couple accountable for their statements.
“I categorically deny the allegation that I benefited from any contractor. I have never dealt with them. I have never used my position for personal gain, and I never will,” Atayde said on his Instagram page.
Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto took to Facebook to share his thoughts on the Discayas’ claim of percentage cuts on their awarded projects.
“Sinong gagawa ng ganoon kalaking krimen para sa 2 to 3 percent na kita? Huwag tayong magpauto sa mga paawa effect nila… Wala daw silang magawa?” Sotto said.
The Discayas told senators that they only got 2 to 3 percent as cuts from the projects given to their construction firms.
“The challenge is now how to sift through the half-truths and attempts to mislead us, not only of the spouses Discaya but of everyone involved,” Sotto added. Sotto defeated Sarah Discaya in the 2025 midterm elections to win the Pasig mayoralty.
