The Discaya couple does not qualify as state witnesses since they are not the “least guilty” party and must return the funds they have embezzled, as stipulated by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) strict conditions, said a lawmaker on Wednesday.
According to Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, who serves as the co-chair of the House Infrastructure Committee, the Discayas played an essential role in facilitating pay-offs, barring them from the role, reported RH 12 Milky Rigonan.
Ridon also questioned the couple’s affidavit presented during the House Infra Committee hearing, which he described as “selective” in identifying those involved in the flood control project anomalies.
“The question that they need to address is, kailan ba nagsimula ang lahat ng ito? Kasi nga top contractor ka ng Aquino administration, Duterte administration, Marcos administration—sinabi nina Discaya 2016 daw sila nagkaroon ng mga proyekto sa flood control na matitindi. Ibig mong sabihin sa 2022 lang nagbibigay, tapos sa ibang panahon, hindi nagbibigay? I think clearly, nagsisinungaling and clearly, selective po ‘yung listahan na inilahad po nila—or, outrightly, kasinungalingan po talaga,” Ridon told reporters during an interview.
Meanwhile, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva are welcome to attend the next InfraComm hearing after being implicated by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez, Ridon said.
Hernandez had alleged that the two received 30 percent of the funds from several flood control projects in Bulacan.
However, Ridon clarified that should Estrada and Villanueva attend, the panel will allow their “right to reply” but draw the line on the interpellation of their accusers.
In the Discaya’s affidavit, 18 district and party-list congressmen were accused of expropriating as much as 25 percent of flood control project funds, among them Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo; Quezon City Reps. Marvin Rillo, Marivic Co-Pilar, Arjo Atayde, Michael Vargas, and Caloocan Rep. Dean Asistio.
