ARREST WARRANT OUT FOR CURLEE DISCAYA

A Bulacan Regional Trial Court has ordered the arrest of businessman and government contractor Curlee Discaya, along with 10 other respondents, over a malversation case linked to an allegedly anomalous flood control project in Bulacan. The case is one of several criminal complaints stemming from the government’s nationwide investigation into questionable flood control projects allegedly involving ghost works, falsified accomplishments, and the misuse of public funds.

Also named in the arrest warrant are Curlee’s wife, Sarah Discaya, St. Timothy Construction executive Ma. Roma Rimando, former DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, and several other respondents. Some of the accused are already facing separate graft and corruption cases arising from other flood control projects currently under investigation.

The arrest order comes while Curlee Discaya remains under Senate custody after being cited in contempt during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s ongoing probe into alleged flood control anomalies. A court earlier upheld the Senate’s authority to continue detaining Discaya while the legislative inquiry remains active, meaning authorities will have to coordinate with the Senate regarding the implementation of the arrest warrant.

Sarah Discaya, meanwhile, has also been facing separate legal troubles tied to alleged ghost flood control projects. She previously surrendered to authorities in connection with another flood control case and has been among the key personalities repeatedly summoned in both Senate and executive branch investigations into the alleged multibillion-peso scandal.

The Discayas have consistently denied wrongdoing. However, the Senate, the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and other government agencies continue to investigate alleged irregularities involving flood control projects worth billions of pesos nationwide.