The Senate has ordered five contractors and three Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials to appear at the next Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Senate President Francis Escudero approved the subpoenas upon the recommendation of Committee Chairperson Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. Those summoned are Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II of Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp., Darcy Kimel D.J. Respicio of Darcy & Anna Builders and Trading, Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading, Maritoni Melegrito of Elite General Contractor and Development Corp., Edgardo Saggum of Eddmari Construction and Trading, Engr. Jaypee Mendoza of DPWH Bulacan 1st District, Engr. Juanito C. Mendoza of the same office, and Engr. Brice Ericson Hernandez, former assistant district engineer.
Curlee Discaya, one of those subpoenaed, is the husband of Cezarah Rowena Discaya, who testified earlier in the probe. Their companies reportedly secured PHP31 billion worth of flood control projects from 2022 to 2025.
The committee also directed Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba to submit highlights of its fraud audit on DPWH flood control projects, including responses from those involved.
“Let the axe fall on all the personalities found guilty of scheming, conniving and carrying out fraudulent acts in the guise of legitimate taxpayer-funded flood control projects,” Escudero said.
The next Blue Ribbon hearing is scheduled for September 8, as senators continue to investigate alleged ghost and substandard projects that may have misused billions in public funds.