Contractor Sarah Discaya has been arrested in relation to a Davao Occidental flood control project worth P96.5 million, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Thursday, December 18. Her arrest shortly followed the announcement of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that warrants of arrest were out for the 10 individuals involved in the case.
“Ang mga akusado ay nahaharap sa kasong graft at malversation,” Marcos said in a video posted to his social media accounts. He added that the offenses were non-bailable.
Discaya placed herself in the NBI’s custody last week amid talks that an arrest warrant would be issued against her in relation to the Davao flood control case. Though she continues to deny involvement in infrastructure corruption schemes in the province, she told ABS-CBN News that she had surrendered to the NBI for her safety.
The businesswoman, whose construction companies were among the top firms contracted by the Department of Public Works and Highways, is currently being held at the NBI Detention Facility at the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City, Inquirer.net reports. The charges against her and nine others, including St. Timothy Construction co-owner Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, were filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
According to the Supreme Court (SC), Discaya’s case is also set to be moved to a regional trial court in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. SC spokesperson Camille Ting told reporters on December 17 that corruption cases involving infrastructure projects “must be forwarded to the nearest designated anti-graft court of the nearest judicial region.”
