Contractor Curlee Discaya is prepared to identify more than 150 individuals allegedly involved in the flood control scandal, his legal counsel confirmed on Wednesday, June 10.
During an interview on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III, legal counsel of the contractor, said Discaya has been able to recall a large number of names due to his nearly nine months of detention at the Senate detention facility, where he was held in connection with a contempt citation linked to a Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry into alleged anomalous public works projects.
According to Samaniego, Discaya insists he can identify individuals he transacted with, claiming he remembers most of those involved.
“Nagulat nga ako sa kanya, kasi hanggang maaari ayoko na sana [magpangalan pa siya]. Kaya lang, sabi niya, kasi dahil sa tagal niyang nagkakulong sa Senate, na-rerecall niya lahat, halos lahat ng mga nakakatransaksyon,” Samaniego said.
“So sabi niya, ang sabi niya sa akin is pangangalanan ko sila. Ganoon din lang naman. Wala namang nangyari doon sa Senado. Sabi niya, ‘Pangalanan na lahat. Damay-damay na.’ ‘Yan ang sabi niya sa akin,“ he added. “Pinipigil ko nga eh. Pero sabi niya ‘In due time, papangalanan ko yan mga yan.“
Samaniego said he has been trying to discourage further disclosures, noting that previous revelations have not led to significant government action.
However, he stressed that he cannot stop his client from speaking publicly if he chooses to do so.
“Pinipigil ko pa rin siyang mag-reveal ulit ng mga pangalan kasi medyo hindi naman yata pinagtutuunan ng pamahalaan ‘yung kanyang mga nirevela noong nakaraan.
Kaya lang, hindi ko mapipigilan ‘yan; kliyente ’yan. Kung anong gusto niyang mangyari, nandito lang tayo para magbigay ng advice,” he said.
The lawyer also confirmed that Discaya claims to possess supporting materials, including ledgers and photographs allegedly documenting meetings with individuals involved in the transactions. However, Samaniego admitted he has not personally seen all of the documents.
He added that he raised questions about the strength of the evidence, but Discaya insisted he has records, including photographs and transaction logs.
Discaya earlier said he would name more than 150 government officials, including members of Congress, whom he allegedly claims received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that nine of the 11 suspects charged in the case are now in government custody.
Discaya was recently arrested on a non-bailable malversation complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with a ₱53.9-million flood control project in Calumpit, Bulacan.
He is also facing graft and malversation charges involving falsification of public documents. Authorities said he is currently detained at separate preventive isolation units at the Bulacan Provincial Jail for security reasons.
The case stems from allegations tied to anomalies in public works projects investigated by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
