Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft and malversation charges with a local court contractor against contractor-couple Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and several others over an alleged anomalous flood control project in Calumpit, Bulacan.
The issue involved a river rehabilitation project of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, owned by the Dicayas, according to a case briefer released on Thursday, June 4, from the Malolos Regional Trial Court.
The alleged irregularities gave unwarranted benefits of nearly ₱54 million to St. Timothy, which transacted with the DPWH-Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
Investigators said payments were released without supporting documents and basis for the disbursements, including payments for dredging and embankment works.
“The subject cases stemmed from the utter and flagrant disregard to government auditing and accounting rules and regulations, particularly the release of payments despite the lack of any legitimate basis to support the same,” the document stated.
Paul Jayson Duya, former DPWH project engineer, who was initially included as a respondent during the preliminary investigation, was excluded from the criminal cases after entering into an immunity agreement with the anti-graft body.
