The Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilized tracker and intelligence units to locate contractor Sarah (Cezarah) Discaya, one of the respondents in the alleged P96.5-million “ghost” flood-control project in Davao Occidental.
Multiple agencies — including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) — have been tapped to ensure she and other respondents cannot leave the country while legal proceedings move forward.
How the case developed: a clear timeline
- 5 December 2025 — The Office of the Ombudsman recommends filing charges including malversation through falsification and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act after determining that the flood-control project was declared “completed” despite no work ever starting. Discaya and several others are named in the recommendation based on documentation reviewed by investigators.
- 6 December 2025 — Reports confirm the Ombudsman’s findings and list Discaya among those facing charges in court. Coverage also notes that authorities believe she remains in the Philippines, but exact whereabouts have not been confirmed.
- 7 December 2025 — The PNP announces it has deployed tracker teams to locate Discaya and the rest of the respondents. Coordination expands to include airport, seaport, and local-government units to prevent possible escape attempts. Agencies begin verifying addresses, travel records, and leads identified in the Ombudsman’s report.
Current status
As of the latest updates, the PNP and partner agencies are continuing their search while waiting for the formal release of arrest warrants. Authorities emphasize that the mobilization is part of a legal process tied to the Ombudsman’s recommendation, and that locating Discaya is necessary to move the case forward.
The investigation into the Davao Occidental project remains one of the most closely watched corruption probes this month, especially given its scale and the alleged fabrication of completion reports for a project that, investigators say, never existed beyond paperwork.