Discaya couple seeks DOJ witness protection

Metro Manila, Philippines - Contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya met with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday, Sept. 19, on their request for witness protection despite admitting they paid off officials to obtain flood control contracts.

The Discaya couple has tagged a number of lawmakers and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who supposedly demanded kickbacks in exchange for multimillion-peso projects.

Remulla said the admission of the Discayas to the Witness Protection Program was not “instant” as the Department of Justice (DOJ) was still evaluating the two, state-run PTV reported.

The DOJ set another meeting with them.

By definition, a protected witness is different from a state witness. During their testimonies in congressional investigations, the Discaya couple has expressed interest in offering themselves as state witnesses.

Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano reiterated the qualifications for state witness, including returning the alleged stolen money. He said people cannot be given immunity if they were unjustly enriched.

“In other words, meron siyang nakuha na pera [a person got money] in a very illegal way, and we are allowing them to take home that money without any repercussion at immune pa tuloy sila [and they received immunity],” Clavano said, according to a video posted by the Philippine News Agency.

“We don’t want that situation, it’s a very awkward [one],” he said. “Sa tingin namin [We think] it’s not the right way to go about things.”

By afternoon, Curlee Discaya returned to the Senate premises, where he was detained for allegedly lying during an investigative hearing.

Discaya claimed his wife Sarah missed the Senate blue ribbon committee meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18, due to a heart condition. But in a letter sent to the panel, Sarah said she had a pre-scheduled “important” meeting with company employees.