MANILA — Authorities have arrested contractors Sarah Discaya and Maria Roma Rimando in connection with an alleged P96.5-million flood control project in Davao Occidental that investigators said existed only on paper, marking a major development in the government’s high-profile corruption case involving public works funds.
Discaya, owner of St. Timothy Construction, was taken into custody by the National Bureau of Investigation after she voluntarily appeared at the agency ahead of the service of a warrant of arrest. Rimando, the company’s president, was separately arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police.
The arrests stem from criminal charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman over the supposed flood control project, which prosecutors said was funded but never implemented. The complaints were initially lodged before the Regional Trial Court in Digos City but were later transferred to the Regional Trial Court in Lapu-Lapu City.
Among the charges filed is malversation of public funds, a non-bailable offense.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed Thursday night that arrest warrants had already been issued against Discaya and her co-accused for corruption and malversation.
Earlier this month, the Ombudsman formally charged Discaya, Rimando, and several former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Occidental in relation to the alleged ghost project.
Also named in the cases were DPWH Davao Occidental District Engineering Office officials Rodrigo Larete, Michael Awa, Joel Lumogdang, Harold John Villaver, Jafael Faunillian, Josephine Valdez, Ranulfo Flores, and Czar Ryan Ubungen.
“After a thorough investigation, reviewing voluminous documents, conducting field verification, and evaluating sworn statements from community witnesses. The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to file criminal charges in connection with an alleged P96.5 million ghost infrastructure project in Davao, Occidental,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said.
“Criminal information will be filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Digos City, Davao del Sur against several officials of DPWH Davao Occidental DEO (District Engineering Office) and private individuals…[the] owners of St. Timothy Construction,” he added./PN
