Contractor Curlee Discaya on Monday said he will name more than 150 government officials, including members of Congress, whom he claims received kickbacks from allegedly anomalous flood control projects.
In an exclusive statement obtained by DZRH News, Discaya accused politicians of exploiting and abandoning him, alleging that he was detained to prevent him from disclosing information about the alleged corruption.
“Mga politikong manggagamit! Ginamit at pinabayaan nila ako! Ipinakulong ako dito sa Senado para mabusalan ang bibig ko! Ngayon wala na ako sa Senado, marami pa akong papangalanang politiko! Damay-damay na lahat,” Discaya said.
He described the politicians who allegedly benefited from the projects as “greedy crocodiles” and condemned what he called their insatiable appetite for public funds.
Discaya also apologized to the public, saying he and his associates had allowed themselves to be used by people in power.
“Humihingi ng tawad sa tao na nagpagamit kami sa mga may hawak ng kapangyarihan. Yes, big fish siguro kami, pero hindi kami buwaya or big crocodile. Magkaibang anyo ng hayop 'yun,” he said.
He maintained that their projects were neither ghost nor substandard projects and were legitimate, fully complying with government contracts.
“Dahil wala kaming ghost project at substandard project, tinupad namin nang maayos kung ano ang nakasaad sa kontrata ng 100% at may insurance warranty bond na puwedeng habulin upang hindi malugi ang gobyerno,” he added.
Discaya questioned why he would reveal the identities of more than 150 officials when, according to him, he was already punished after naming 17 individuals allegedly involved in the flood control controversy.
“Sa 17 na nasa kapangyarihan pa lang na nabanggit namin, binusalan at ikinulong n'yo ako ng 9 months. Bakit ko pa babanggitin ang mga pangalan ng 150-plus pa na nasa kapangyarihan, dahil binusalan n'yo na ako?” he said.
“Akala ko nais n'yo ng katotohanan kaya nagbigay lang muna ako ng kaunting pangalan, pero sa maliit na mga binanggit ko na bilang, hindi na kayo mapagkakatiwalaan. Paano ko pa babanggitin ang mga 150-plus na may hawak ng kapangyarihan?” he added.
He lamented: “Sana sa umpisa pa lang sinabi n'yo na ayaw n'yo ng katotohanan. Kung alam ko lang na ganito ang aming sasapitin, hindi na sana ako nagpangalan pa. Pero mas pinili pa rin namin na tumindig sa katotohanan at wakasan na ang panggagamit sa amin ng mga nasa kapangyarihan na mga malalaking buwaya na walang kabusugan.”
Discaya said he spent nine months in Senate detention as part of an effort to suppress what he described as the full truth behind the alleged flood control scam.
“Kung ito ang kapalit ng pagsabi ng katotohanan sa marami mong nalalaman, ang gawan ka ng kaso at alisan ng kalayaan upang tuluyang mabusalan ang katotohanan dahil natatakot na lahat ng 150-plus na mga nasa kapangyarihan baka ang bibig ko ay patuloy na madulas sa pagsasalita ng walang humpay na katotohanan,” he said.
Meanwhile, authorities arrested Discaya on Monday morning following his release from Senate detention.
The contractor is currently under the custody of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) after being served a warrant of arrest in connection with a non-bailable malversation case linked to allegedly anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.
Discaya, who is reportedly suffering from a shoulder injury sustained during his arrest, is expected to be brought before the Regional Trial Court in Malolos City, which issued the arrest warrant against him and his wife, Sarah Discaya.
