Speaker: Contractors’ claim ‘false, malicious’
Speaker Martin Romualdez has called out contractor-couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya for claiming that his name was used by individuals to obtain commissions from their infrastructure projects, saying it is “false, malicious, and nothing more than namedropping.”
Romualdez said that if anyone had used his name to get funding from projects, they did it without his knowledge and permission.
“I cannot and will not allow lies and namedropping to pass unchecked. The claim in the Discaya couple’s affidavit that my name was used for commissions is false, malicious, and nothing more than namedropping. Let me be clear: Wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain (I have no knowledge nor did I give approval to such acts),” Romualdez said.
“If anyone invoked my name, they did so without my knowledge and without my consent. At kung ginawa nila iyon para kumita, sila ang mandaraya at sila ang dapat managot (And if they made it to make money, they are the corrupt and they should be accountable),” he added.
According to Romualdez, he is a self-made individual and has never accepted any bribe from anyone.
“I will not allow falsehoods to tarnish my integrity or the institution I lead. Under my watch, we will clean the system, punish the guilty, and protect the people’s money,” he vowed.
Diversionary tactic
During his testimony at the blue ribbon panel, Curlee Discaya named several congressmen and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials who allegedly solicited money from his companies after they won a contract for government projects.
Ako Bicol party list Rep. Elizaldy Co also claimed that accusations leveled against him by the Discaya couple are politically motivated and mere hearsay.
In a statement on Monday, Co said that such irresponsible accusations are unsubstantiated and only seek to mislead the public.
“I vehemently deny all the baseless and irresponsible accusations made against me during the Senate hearing held today. These unsubstantiated claims, which attempt to implicate me are not only hearsay but are also politically motivated designed to mislead the public and deflect accountability,” said Co, former chair of the House committee on appropriations.
“The 2025 (national budget) was certified and approved by both Houses of Congress and signed by the President. As mentioned during the Senate hearing, the President even vetoed some provisions and withheld the release of funds for projects,” he added.
According to Co, he does not want to comment on the 2025 national budget as there is a pending case before the Supreme Court.
Charges readied
Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, who was among those on the list, said claims of him getting kickbacks are a demolition job after he exposed issues with the 2026 national budget, noting that firms owned by the Discaya family have not been awarded any contracts under his watch.
Teodoro, in a statement, said he believed the allegation arose after he told Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno that projects already completed still received allocations in the 2026 National Expenditure Program.
“It is clearer than the light of day that these are mere diversionary tactics of syndicates to distract from the true issue of corruption and anomalies in flood control projects under DPWH,” he said in Filipino.
According to Teodoro, he was not the Marikina lawmaker when the contracts were awarded to companies owned by the Discayas, stressing that he was not even a lawmaker yet when the projects in the city were put up for bidding.
“In fact, the DPWH projects that went to the Discayas came before I sat as a congressman—around 2020 or 2021, not 2022 and above,” Teodoro said.
“That’s why it’s clear that this accusation is wrong, malicious, and there is no other goal but to destroy my name and reputation, along with the trust of people from Marikina,” he added.
Teodoro said he was considering the filing of perjury charges against the Discayas because the testimonies were made under oath.
More denials
Aside from Teodoro, other lawmakers implicated by the Discayas denied involvement with the couple.
Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, who was part of the camp that opposed Sarah Discaya’s mayoral candidacy in the city, denied the accusation, claiming this was a diversionary tactic.
“Even during my first term as a lawmaker, I did not interfere in the bidding process within our DPWH. That’s clear, in fact I didn’t know who won bids, I am even shocked to know who won in the bidding,” Romulo said.
Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde (first district) also denied having dealt with the family’s companies.
“I categorically deny the allegation that I benefited from any contractor. I have never dealt with them,” he said.
“I will avail [myself] of all remedies under the law to clear my name and hold accountable those who spread these falsehoods,” he added.
