Husband-and-wife contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya went before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday to disclose what they called a “system” of kickbacks in public works projects, saying they were forced to give up as much as a quarter of project funds to lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials.
The Discayas, owners of St. Gerrard Construction and several others, narrated in a sworn statement how their company started joining government projects in 2003 but soon encountered demands for shares before contracts could move forward.
She stated that they met Voltaire Claveria, who works for a congressman and offered them government projects in exchange for money.
Because they didn’t know anything, she said that they trusted Claveria and handed him all of their funds, but he deceived them.
“Sa kasamaang palad, niloko lang niya kami. Naglaho siya, dala ang pera naming mag-asawa,” she said.
Sarah said they went to the DPWH to report the incident, but the department did not take notice of it, or “hindi nila pinansin.” Regardless of the circumstances, she stated that they maintained fair participation in government biddings and ultimately secured projects.
She told senators too, that aside from St. Gerrard Construction, they had also formed other construction firms under different names to keep winning projects no matter the risks.
Setting up multiple companies like Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corporation, Sarah explained, was the only way for them to remain in the industry while dealing with what they described as the entrenched “25 percent system.”
“Ngunit noong nagsimula ng makilala ang St. Gerrard Construction, dumating naman ang panibagong pagsubok. Unti-unti nang nagsilapitan ang mga district engineer, at mga regional director ng DPWH, at mga chief of staff ng mga mambabatas na nag-aalok ng mga proyektong sinasabi nilang pondo ng mambabatas,” she stated.
The Discaya couple said they tried to fight back by reporting the matter to the DPWH and by exposing corrupt government officials in the media, but the practice continued.
They were also told to just accept the reality that they had to pay if they wanted to keep securing government projects.
They claimed that if they don’t give a cut of the flood control funds, they would be blacklisted and would no longer be allowed to participate in government biddings.
“Napilitan kaming makisama sa kalakaran kahit labag sa aming kalooban,” she said.
Curlee said they were “repeatedly used” by those in power under this system and could do nothing about it, because if they refused to cooperate, their awarded projects would be given problems through “mutual termination” or by creating a “right of way” issues to stop implementations.
“Ang hinihingi nilang porsyento ay hindi baba sa 10 porsyento at umaabot pa sa 25%, na naging kundisyon upang hindi maipit ang implementasyon ng kontrata. Ito ay ibinibigay namin sa kanila ng cash… ang bawat transaksyon ay may karampatang voucher na nagsasaad ng mga araw at kung kelan nila ito natanggap,” he said.
He disclosed the names of several lawmakers they alleged had been involved:
– Terrence Calatrava – former undersecretary, Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas
– Rep. Roman Romulo (Pasig)
– Rep. Jojo Ang (Uswag Ilonggo Partylist)
– Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas (Quezon City)
– Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde (Quezon City)
– Rep. Nicanor “Nikki” Briones (AGAP Partylist)
– Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro (Marikina)
– Rep. Florida “Rida” Robes (San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan)
– Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madronio (Romblon)
– Rep. Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao Jr.
– Rep. Florencio Gabriel “Bem” Noel (An-Waray Partylist)
– Rep. Leody “Odie” Tarriela
– Rep. Reynante “Reynan” Arrogancia (Quezon)
– Rep. Marvin Rillo (Quezon City)
– Rep. Teodorico “Teodoro” Haresco Jr. (Aklan)
– Rep. Antonieta Eudela (Zamboanga Sibugay)
– Rep. Dean Asistio (Caloocan)
– Rep. Marivic Co-Pillar (Quezon City)
He added that there are also representatives of politicians who meet with them to ask for cuts in exchange for projects.
“Ang mga porsyentong ito ay 25% ay ipinipilit sa amin bilang karaniwang kalakaran na wala akong kakayagang tanggihan,” Curlee said.
He also identified DPWH officials who allegedly demanded shares:
– Regional Director Eduarte Virgilio (Region V)
– Director Ramon A. Arriola III (Unified Project Management Offices)
– District Engineer Henry Alcantara (Bulacan 1st)
– Undersecretary Robert Bernardo
– District Engineer Aristotle Ramos (Metro 1st)
– District Engineer Manny Bulusan (North Manila)
– District Engineer Edgardo C. Pingol (Bulacan Sub-DEO)
– District Engineer Michael Rosaria (Quezon 2nd DEO)
The couple further claimed the names of Speaker Martin Romualdez and Zaldy Co were frequently mentioned in connection with the alleged system of payments.
“Karamihan sa mga kawani ng DPWH na nabanggit… ay paulit-ulit na binabanggit ang delivery ng pera ay para kay Zaldy Co na dapat at least 25%. Si Cong. Marvin Rillo naman ay laging binabanggit ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez bilang kanyang malapit na kaibigan,” he said.
The Discayas ended their testimony with a plea for security.
“Kami ay lubos na humihingi ng tulong sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na pinamumunuan ng butihing Chairman Senador Rodante Marcoleta at kay Presidente Bongbong Marcos para sa proteksyon at seguridad ng aming pamilya,” they said.
