MANILA – Malacañang signaled that additional individuals implicated in the controversial flood control projects could soon face imprisonment, as authorities continue to widen their investigation months after it began.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said the inquiry remains active and will extend beyond the holiday season, dismissing notions that developments would stall after Christmas.
“Some quarters are calling the Discaya couple as the new Napoles but their unexplained wealth is ten times over. Both spent Christmas in detention,” Gomez said in a media briefing.
The Palace official was referring to contractors Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, who have emerged as central figures in the alleged misuse of public funds tied to flood control initiatives.
Sarah Discaya is currently detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail in Cebu following the service of an arrest warrant by the National Bureau of Investigation.
She faces corruption and malversation charges over a supposed P96.5-million flood control project in Davao Occidental that authorities have described as a “ghost” undertaking.
Her husband, Curlee Discaya, meanwhile, spent Christmas Day in Senate custody after being cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Lawmakers penalized him for allegedly providing false information regarding his failure to attend a September 18 hearing on questionable flood control contracts.
Gomez stressed that the pace of the probe should not be compared to the calendar, noting that major corruption cases typically take time to reach the courts.
“The flood control investigation does not end on December 25. It’s only been a little over four months. The Napoles probe took almost a year before people were sent to jail. There will surely be more thrown behind bars in the New Year,” he said.
The investigation formally began about five months ago, and the Office of the Ombudsman has since started filing cases against several individuals believed to be involved in the alleged anomalies.
Malacañang has repeatedly said it supports efforts to hold accountable both public officials and private individuals linked to irregular flood control projects, as the administration pushes for tougher action against corruption./PN
