Metro Manila, Philippines – Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto criticized contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya – his former political rivals in the 2025 mayoral election – as the couple sought state witness protection during a Senate hearing on alleged ghost flood control projects.
“Obviously there are congressmen, DPWH officials, and contractors who are guilty. But the Spouses Discaya are clearly angling to become state witnesses. Para di sila makulong. [So that they won’t go to jail.] We know they are capable of lying,” Sotto said.The Discayas named 17 lawmakers and a number of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in their testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee, accusing them of soliciting payoffs in exchange for awarding projects. Sarah Discaya, a chief finance officer involved in a number of construction companies, lost by a wide margin to Sotto.Sotto slammed inconsistencies in their statements.“Yung pinaka obvious na lang munang halimbawa ng kasinungalingan — [Let’s begin with the most obvious example of lying] Mr. Curlee said they only earned 2 to 3 percent of contract cost per project, 5 percent if they were lucky. In other projects, they claimed they even lost money,” he said.“That’s contrary to their own interview where they said they were billionaires, that they had ‘11 digits’ in their accounts – meaning at least ₱10 billion. Paano ka magiging bilyonaryo na ganun sa 2–3% profit? [How do you become a billionaire from just 2–3% profit?]” he added.Sotto also pointed out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s remarks that he personally saw evidence of their so-called “ghost projects.”“Wag tayong magpauto sa mga paawa effect nila… Wala daw silang magawa? [Let’s not be deceived by their underdog narrative… claiming they had no choice?] The challenge now is to sift through the half-truths and attempts to mislead us, not only from the Discayas but from everyone involved.”The Discayas defended themselves before the Senate, insisting they were victims caught in an entrenched payoff system. “Paulit-ulit kaming ginamit ng mga nasa puwesto sa sistemang ito,” Curlee Discaya said.[Translation: We were repeatedly used by those in power in this system.]Senate blue ribbon chairman Rodante Marcoleta said the couple could be considered for witness protection – so long as they are not deemed the “most guilty.”
