Sarah Discaya's arraignment in Davao 'ghost' project graft case set for Jan. 13

Sarah Discaya, arrested last week over a P96.5-million 'ghost' flood control project in Davao Occidental, faces arraignment on graft and malversation charges on January 13, 2025, before a Cebu court. Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto has accused her camp of intimidating potential witnesses amid broader corruption concerns.

The arraignment of contractor Sarah Discaya is scheduled for January 13, 2025, at 10 a.m. before Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, NBI spokesman Palmer Mallari confirmed. Discaya, detained since her December 18 arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation and transfer to Cebu the next day, is one of eight charged in the unexecuted P96.5-million project funded for Davao Occidental.

Her niece, Ma. Roma Rimando, president of St. Timothy Construction Corp., was also arrested in the case.

In a recent Facebook statement, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto highlighted intimidation efforts by the Discaya camp against former employees poised to testify. He rejected claims minimizing their role, citing billions in transactions by their firms and labeling them as 'instigators' in corruption across administrations. Sotto called for public vigilance and accountability.

The case underscores persistent issues in government infrastructure projects.

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Dramatic illustration of AMLC agents seizing P13 billion in assets amid the Philippine flood control scandal, with flooded streets and presidential orders in the background.
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Amlc freezes p13 billion in assets linked to flood control scandal

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The Anti-Money Laundering Council has frozen assets worth P13 billion linked to the flood control scandal, with the amount expected to rise as investigations continue. Justice Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz resigned amid allegations of involvement in the anomalies, while President Marcos ordered the DILG and PNP to track down Sarah Discaya and others connected to a P100-million ghost project.

Following her arrest on graft and malversation charges tied to a P96.5-million 'ghost' flood control project in Davao Occidental, contractor Sarah Discaya was escorted to Cebu for court proceedings. Her company president was also arrested in the case, amid separate tax evasion probes.

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Following her voluntary surrender earlier amid public criticism, super contractor Sarah Discaya was formally arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday night, December 18, over an alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed warrants also cover nine others facing non-bailable graft and malversation charges, while eight Department of Public Works and Highways officials plan to surrender.

The Department of Justice has decided to file two tax evasion cases against Sarah and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya for violations of the National Internal Revenue Code in 2020 and 2021. It also dismissed three other complaints against them due to lack of evidence or expiration of the prescription period. These actions are part of a broader investigation into their flood control projects.

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In the ongoing Senate probe into alleged DPWH budget insertions for ghost flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has handed over documents linked to the late former undersecretary Catalina Cabral to authorities including the Ombudsman and DOJ. He urged restraint in public discussions, while a contractor paid P15 million in restitution via the Witness Protection Program.

The Office of the Ombudsman has placed around 30 cases involving the Department of Public Works and Highways under preliminary investigation amid allegations of anomalies in flood control projects. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced the development on November 4, 2025, as part of a broader government crackdown. A new task force will also examine projects linked to the Villar family.

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Malacañang is still validating Sen. Panfilo Lacson's claim that former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan deliberately provided false ghost flood control data to undermine the anomaly investigation. Lacson said the data led to incorrect grid coordinates for thousands of nationwide projects. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong confirmed errors in these coordinates.

 

 

 

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