Regulator revokes licenses of 9 Discaya construction firms
Metro Manila, Philippines - Private contractor Sarah Discaya has lost the license of her nine construction firms as the government cracks down on alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects that involve billions in public funds.
In a resolution dated Sept. 1, the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) revoked the license of nine construction firms owned or controlled by Discaya.
These were:
+ St. Gerrard Construction Gen. Contractor & Dev’t Corporation
+ Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Dev’t Corporation
+ St. Timothy Construction Corporation
+ Amethyst Horizon Builders And Gen. Contractor & Dev’t Corp.
+ St. Matthew General Contractor & Development Corporation
+ Great Pacific Builders And General Contractor, Inc.
+ YPR General Contractor And Construction Supply, Inc.
+ Way Maker OPC
+ Elite General Contractor And Development Corp.
The agency’s website also showed that their licenses were withdrawn as of Sept. 1.
Discaya, a losing Pasig mayoralty candidate, is among the top contractors who secured billions of flood control projects over the past three years — the subject of a public audit ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Discaya confirmed that the nine companies are owned jointly by her and other family members. She also admitted that their firms would sometimes bid for the same government projects.
READ: Discaya admits family’s 9 companies bid for same projects
PCAB said this practice violates procurement laws and licensing requirements.
“[S]uch admission establishes a scheme of joint or multiple bidding participation designed to influence the outcome of public bidding, manipulate results, and corner public projects thereby undermining transparency, fairness, and competition,” the PCAB said.
The PCAB board said the continued accreditation of the corporations was “inimical to public interest, industry integrity, and government procurement transparency.”
With the revocation order, the regulator will remove the nine firms from its registry of duly licensed contractors.
“[T]he matter shall likewise be endorsed to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice for further determination of criminal liability, if warranted under the Revised Penal Code and procurement laws,” it added.
Sought for comment, Cornelio Samaniego III, who represents Discaya and her husband Curlee, said he has yet to hear from his clients.
The lawyer said due process must be observed before the license withdrawal.
‘Blatant liar’
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada called Discaya a “blatant liar” over her responses during the blue ribbon committee investigation.
He said he is contemplating to cite Discaya in contempt for her inconsistencies.
“Kita mo, sabi niya, sa Alpha and Omega lang siya concerned tapos, nang tinanong ko si St. Timothy, si St. Gerard, [sabi niya] nag-divest na pero hindi naman totally nag-divest,” the senator said.
“Nandun pa rin yung pangalan niya sa Alpha. Inassign niya sa St. Timothy pamangkin niya. Yung isa, asawa niya. Yung isa, anak niya. Ang operation sila-sila rin,” he said.
[Translation: Discaya said she was only concerned about Alpha and Omega. But when I asked regarding St. Timothy and St. Gerard, she said she already divested but she did not totally divest. Her name is still on Alpha. She assigned St. Timothy to her niece. The other one to her husband, another to her child. The operation is still with them.]
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has urged the Department of Justice to issue an urgent immigration lookout bulletin order against several agency officials and controversial government contractors, including the Discayas.
The Discaya couple’s lawyer said the couple is still in the country.
