Metro Manila, Philippines – The Ombudsman on Friday, Dec. 5 ordered the filing of graft and non-bailable malversation charges before the Digos Regional Trial Court against government contractor Sarah Discaya and nine others, over a non-existent P96.5 million flood control project in Davao Occidental.
The contract was awarded to Discaya’s construction firm.
The charges include eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Ma. Roma Angeline Romando of Discaya’s St. Timothy Construction Corporation.
‘Yung pinakamataas po dito na salary grade ay 25, district engineer ng DPWH Davao Occidental. Now it’s still possible that there are proponents in these cases that have yet to be uncovered and as of right now, given the counteraffidavits of the respondents, wala pa po tayo nakikita. So we went ahead and filed the case, but that does not stop us from collecting more evidence that will show that there are proponents or higher officials involved in this case,” said Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, when asked why the case was filed in a lower court.
[Translation: The highest salary grade here is 25, which is the district engineer of DPWH Davao Occidental. Now, it’s still possible that there are proponents in these cases that have yet to be uncovered, and as of right now, given the counter-affidavits of the respondents, we have not seen any. So we went ahead and filed the case, but that does not stop us from collecting more evidence that will show whether there are proponents or higher officials involved in this case.]
Under the law, the Ombudsman can file cases before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court for officials with Salary Grade 27 and above.
Clavano said the Ombudsman also issued a six-month preventive suspension against the DPWH officials.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon earlier flagged the ‘ghost’ retaining wall in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, which was marked completed in October 2022 and fully paid in early 2023, but remains unfinished.
The project was awarded during the Duterte administration in 2021.
In a video message, Marcos asked the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to conduct initial preparations once the arrest warrant is out.
“I have directed the DILG and the PNP to ensure they know the whereabouts of the Discaya at iba pa para paglabas ng arrest warrant ay maaresto na sila [so they will be arrested once the arrest warrant is out],” he said.
Clavano said the request for a hold departure order, which bars people from leaving the country, is being prepared.
This is the second filing of the Ombudsman in the flood control scandal, after it filed criminal charges with former House appropriations chairman Zaldy Co and 15 others, over a P290 million substandard road dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
