MANILA – Malacañang has refuted denials by contractor couple Cezarah “Sarah” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya over their firm’s involvement in the controversial second phase of the Philippine Film Heritage Building (PFHB), presenting contract details that directly tie their company to the project.
Presidential Press Officer Claire Castro said Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor, Inc., owned by the Discayas, “voluntarily entered” into an agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the continuation of the project despite their legal counsel’s insistence otherwise.
“They might have forgotten their commitments, considering the numerous projects that they got from the government. Wrong information given to the media may cause confusion to the people,” Castro stressed.
The Discayas’ lawyer, Cornelio Samaniego, earlier argued that Great Pacific Builders only handled Phase 1 of the PFHB construction, completed in December 2024, and that another contractor took over the next phase.
Castro, however, cited documents showing that Great Pacific Builders signed Contract ID No. 230H0119 with DPWH representative Manny Bulusan for the “Construction of FDCP Film Heritage Building in Intramuros, Manila,” with a total value of ₱107,983,255.11.
The agreement, she said, was notarized by Atty. M. Laguerta of Manila and required a 240-day work period with a September 4, 2025 deadline.
“Common sense will dictate us that the contractor cannot finish the project in December 2024 when the contract was merely executed into a contract on Jan. 2, 2025. Paano mangyayari na natapos ang kontrata noong December 2024 pero ang kontrata ay magsisimula nang January 2025?” Castro pointed out.
She also warned the Discayas of possible legal consequences for the allegedly defective design and construction of the PFHB.
Meanwhile, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos voiced her displeasure over the state of the facility on Instagram, calling it a “rotten monument of incompetence.”/PN
