Statement of Ombudsman on Filing Charges vs. Discaya Couple
OMBUDSMAN – The Office confirmed that it is ready to move forward with the cases against contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya.
Amid the flood control mess in the Philippines, former Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. into a new post. He was chosen as the country’s chief graft-buster.
Now-Ombudsman Boying Remulla assured the Filipinos that not even the relatives of Marcos Jr. will be spared if there is an evidence against them over the flood control issue. He vowed to speed up the legal process over the matter.
Remulla also claimed that they are already crafting the measures on the possible plea-bargaining for those who are involved in the flood control issue who will cooperate with the government in resolving the case. He previously claimed that a friend of his who is a former congressman in Quezon City allegedly wants to make a “tell-all”.
Currently, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI is conducting an investigation on the flood control issue in the country. They have invited several personalities tagged in the supposed multi-billion scam including controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya.
Curlee and Sarah Discaya were the first to do name-dropping during a Senate flood probe. They accused several congressmen and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects of the government.
However, recently, the ICI announced that the Discayas withdrew their cooperation to the flood control probe amid the lack of state witness recommendation. Ombudsman Boying Remulla believes that the Discayas are “possibly” protecting the Villars and Sen. Bong Go.
Recently, the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that they are ready to move forward with the cases against Curlee and Sarah Discaya. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano also stressed that the contractors totally lost their chance to become state witnesses.
“The Discayas, due to their uncooperative behavior now, there’s absolutely no chance that they can even become state witnesses anymore. Because of the statement that they are uncooperative, then they are leaning to be hostile witnesses and can only be charged as respondents in the future, accused in the case of malversation of public funds, of falsification of public documents and all the other crimes they were a part of,” Clavano said.
Based on the report, Clavano revealed that the Discayas have joined 4,000 biddings around the country and they were allegedly present in any “scheme or scam” of the DPWH. According to him, it is really allegedly impossible that they will be state witnesses.
“The wheels of justice will turn on the Discaya if they refuse to cooperate. Tignan na lang po natin kung di pa rin sila magkocooperate kung nakakulong na sila,” the Assistant Ombudsman said.
Several luxury cars of the contractor couple were taken by the Bureau of Customs amid the flood control mess. The BOC previously confirmed that some of the luxury cars of the Discayas will be auctioned starting November 15.