Sarah and Curlee Discaya, owners of St. Gerrard Construction, accused corrupt officials of forcing them to join anomalous project biddings. Sarah said their firm initially won projects through fair bidding, but district engineers, DPWH regional directors, and lawmakers’ staff began offering projects funded by legislators, pressuring them to pay kickbacks.
“Noong nagsimulang makilala ang St. Gerrard Construction…unti-unti nang nagsilapitan ang mga district engineers at mga regional directors ng DPWH at mga chiefs of staff ng mga mambabatas na nag-aalok ng mga proyekto na sinasabi nilang pondo ng mambabatas,” she told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Despite reporting these incidents to the DPWH, no action was taken. Sarah added, “Sabi nila, dapat tanggapin namin ang realidad na dapat kaming magbayad sa mga mambabatas kung gusto po naming magpatuloy na magkaroon project sa gobyerno. Kung hindi, binabala nila na matatanggal sa listahan ang kumpanya namin at hindi na makakakuha ng kahit anong proyekto.”
Curlee said refusal to join the scheme would have led to project termination or right-of-way problems. He revealed, “Matapos naming manalo sa bidding, may mga opisyal ng DPWH ang lumalapit sa amin para humingi at kumuha ng bahagi nila sa proyekto. Ang hinihingi nilang porsyente ay hindi bababa sa 10 porsyento at umaabot pa sa 25 percent, na naging kondisyon upang hindi maipit ang implementasyon ng kontrata.”
The Discayas denied involvement in ghost projects and said they regularly inspect completed works. They named several officials and lawmakers allegedly involved in the scheme and offered to be state witnesses to expose corruption.
“Handa kaming tumestigo na walang pilit at kusang loob bilang state witness at sabihin ang lahat ng nangyayaring katiwalian ng Kamara, DPWH, at iba pang mga kawani ng gobyerno para gawin ang tama,” Curlee said.
They appealed to Representative Rodante Marcoleta and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for protection amid their revelations.