Nine of 11 people facing graft and malversation charges over an alleged anomalous flood control project in Bulacan are now in government custody following the arrest of contractor Curlee Discaya II.
The Philippine National Police served an arrest warrant on Discaya at the Senate yesterday. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the 11 face two indictments: Criminal Case 307M202 for violations of Republic Act 3019 and Criminal Case 3573M2026 for malversation of public funds through falsification of documents. Those detained include Sarah Discaya, Ma. Angeline Discaya Rimando of St. Timothy Construction, and public works employees Merg Jaron Caparas Laus, Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Norberto Santos, Juanito Mendoza and Floralyn Simbulan. DPWH employees Ernesto Galang and Lorenzo Pagtalunan remain at large. Discaya accused unnamed politicians of using and abandoning him. “Politicians used me and then abandoned me,” he said. He maintained that his company had no ghost or substandard projects and fulfilled all contracts according to government specifications.
