MANILA, Philippines – Contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya have implicated several lawmakers and DPWH officials in what they described as a long-running kickback system tied to multi-billion peso flood control projects.
Testifying before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the couple said officials routinely demanded a 25% cut from project funds – whether through budget insertions or unprogrammed appropriations. They added that the names of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former appropriations chair Zaldy Co were repeatedly invoked in negotiations.
Among those also named as alleged recipients of at least 10% commissions were Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, Quezon City Reps. Arjo Atayde, Patrick Michael Vargas, Marvin Rillo, and Marivic Co-Pilar; Caloocan Rep. Dean Asistio; San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes; Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona; Occidental Mindoro Rep. Odie Tarriela; Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia; and AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones.
Others identified include former congressmen Benjamin Agarao Jr., Florencio Gabriel Noel, Teodorico Haresco Jr., and Antonieta Eudela, along with Terence Calatrava, a former undersecretary in the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, and USWAG Ilonggo Party-list Rep. Jojo Ang.
The Discayas denied involvement in so-called “ghost projects,” insisting their companies completed awarded contracts. They also declared their willingness to become state witnesses to expose what they called a systemic practice of kickbacks within government infrastructure projects.
This is a developing story. IORBITNEWS TEAM