ILOILO City – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has become the stage for explosive revelations of alleged systemic corruption in government infrastructure projects, with Western Visayas lawmakers Uswag Ilonggo party-list’s Cong. James “Jojo” Ang and former Aklan 2nd District congressman Teodorico Haresco Jr. among those directly named in a contractors’ sworn testimony.
Contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya alleged yesterday that House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol party-list’s Zaldy Co were at the center of a vast kickback scheme where they also implicated Ang, Haresco, and more than a dozen other legislators and officials.
Testifying under oath, Curlee Discaya recounted how Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers and congressional staff allegedly pressured their companies into handing over slices of project funds, with payouts ranging from 10 percent to as high as 25 percent of project costs.
“Kung hindi kami makikisama, pinapahirapan nila ang implementasyon,” Curlee said, explaining that non-compliance meant delayed approvals, right-of-way obstacles, or disqualified bids.
He added that all transactions were carried out in cash and supported by vouchers and ledgers that recorded the dates of delivery.
In his sworn statement, Discaya claimed that Ang’s name often surfaced in their dealings because of his supposed ties to Romualdez and Co.
“Si Cong. Jojo Ang naman ay lagi ring binabanggit na lahat ng project sa kanya ay papondo ni Speaker at ni Zaldy Co kaya mataas ang hinihingi sa project. Dagdag pa niya, hindi naman lahat ng pera ay para sa kanya kundi para kay Speaker at Zaldy Co,” Discaya testified.
As of press time, Ang and Haresco could not be reached for comment. Panay News remains open to publish their side once issued.
Ang was first elected congressman via the party-list system in the 2022 elections and was reelected in the 2025 polls. He was the Iloilo City-based Uswag Ilonggo party-list’s first nominee in both elections.
Haresco was the congressman of Aklan’s 2nd District from 2019 to 2025, serving the 18th and 19th Congress. He sought reelection in the 2025 midterm elections but lost.
Prior to the creation of Aklan’s 2nd District in 2018, Haresco served as the congressman of Aklan’s at-large district from 2013 to 2016.
The Discayas claimed their construction firm, St. Gerrard Construction, initially won projects through regular bidding. But as its profile expanded, demands from politicians and officials began to surface, they said.
The couple further alleged that the “deliveries” earmarked for Co were pegged at no less than 25 percent of project cost.
Curlee also recalled being told by Quezon City’s Cong. Marvin Rillo that Romualdez was his “close friend” and that allocations he obtained came from unprogrammed funds and budget insertions supposedly approved by the Speaker.
Those tagged in the testimonies include legislators Roman Romulo, Patrick Michael Vargas, Arjo Atayde, Nicanor Briones, Florida Robes, Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Benjamin Agarao Jr., Florencio Noel, Leody Tarriela, Reynante Arrogancia, Antonieta Eudela, Dean Asistio, Marivic Co-Pilar, Marikina City’s Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, and former Malacañang official Terrence Calatrava.
The contractors said they were compelled to participate in the scheme “to keep their business and families safe” and have offered to serve as state witnesses to expose the alleged conspiracy between legislators, DPWH officials, and middlemen to rig public works projects.
Some of those implicated quickly denied the accusations. Romulo flatly rejected the claim, saying, “Not true. I’m just chairing a committee meeting.”
Marikina mayor Teodoro, meanwhile, stressed that he was not even a legislator during the period in question.
“Wala naman akong relationship o influence sa DPWH at that time,” he said.
The Discayas maintained that they never engaged in “ghost projects” and appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Senate Blue Ribbon chair Rodante Marcoleta for protection as they prepare to detail the alleged corruption network./PN
