Dizon: Discayas got contracts worth P78B since 2016
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon continued to expose the wealth amassed by Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, the contractor couple who have drawn much flak in the ongoing investigation into graft-tainted infrastructure projects.
Sarcastically describing them as “champions” in securing government contracts, Dizon on Friday noted that companies owned by the Discayas had managed to secure projects worth almost P78 billion since 2016, or the start of the Duterte administration.
The couple were in the first group of contractors and public works officials sued last month by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at the Office of the Ombudsman for graft and malversation of public funds.
The Department of Justice, however, later admitted the Discayas to the Witness Protection Program, citing the need for their cooperation in building up more cases.
Referred to PCC
Dizon drew attention to the couple on Friday as the DPWH formally asked another agency—the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC)—to have the Discayas and other contractors investigated further, this time for allegedly rigging public biddings.
According to Dizon, DPWH records showed that the Discaya-owned companies got a total of 1,214 flood control projects from 2016 to this year, all worth P77.934 billion.
“The Discayas are the champions here,” Dizon said at a press conference. “We are prioritizing the contractors that we slapped with criminal charges. I don’t want to discuss anything about the other contractors since their cases are yet to be filed, but definitely the Discayas are the champions here.”
From 2023 to 2025, he said, their companies were in the “Top 2 or 3” in terms of contracts won.
Citing records from the Land Registration Authority, Dizon said the Discayas also accumulated 18 properties with an estimated market value of P1 billion.
Penalties
He said the couple had actually admitted engaging in rigged biddings in their testimonies before the Senate blue ribbon committee.
Dizon said they could face penalties of up to “P300 billion” from the PCC.
Aside from the Discayas, the DPWH chief referred to the commission several other cases of alleged bidding manipulation.
Recovering people’s money
“Unlike the previous cases wherein the PCC would do a case buildup and gather evidence by themselves, we believe this would make it easier for them [to act on the case],” Dizon said. “It is important for us to hold (the contractors) accountable and for them to return the money of our taxpayers.”
Dizon said the DPWH had also written to different surety and insurance companies to recover surety bonds amounting to P89 million for flood control projects in Bulacan province that were found to be substandard.
