Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday blasted contractors Sara and Curlee Discaya for allegedly withholding vital financial records and "playing the victim" during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into a massive flood control scam.
Speaking at the Kapehan sa Senado on January 21, Hontiveros questioned the integrity of the couple’s submissions, noting they have only provided ledgers covering 2022 to 2025 while refusing to turn over records from 2016 to 2022.
The P305-Billion "Missing Piece"
Hontiveros emphasized that the missing six years of data are critical, as they cover the entirety of the previous administration when the Discayas’ firm allegedly began securing massive government projects.
"It is a very important and big missing piece," Hontiveros stated.
The senator further noted that Sarah Discaya herself admitted in an earlier hearing that they started receiving major contracts as early as 2016.
According to Hontiveros, the Blue Ribbon estimates they secured roughly P305 billion worth of contracts from 2016 to 2025, which she remarked “impossible” that projects of such scale have no paper trail or that they have no access to them.
The senator expressed disbelief over recent statements from Curlee Discaya, who reportedly claimed his firm was being "robbed" or victimized by the scrutiny.
“Parang hinoldup tayo, tapos kailangan pa natin mag-sorry sa holdaper,” Hontiveros told reporters.
Hontiveros also debunked the couple's excuses for the missing records—such as being barred from their offices at City Hall or having no staff left to retrieve files—noting that the Senate has "credible sources" proving these claims are false.
The senator issued a clear warning to the couple regarding their potential bid for the Witness Protection Program (WPP). She stressed that cooperation must begin with the Senate.
"If they truly want to be accepted into the Witness Protection Program, they must start by answering our questions truthfully and completely right here in the Blue Ribbon Committee," she said.
Hontiveros reiterated that the committee’s goal is to complete the "total picture" of the alleged corruption that has spanned nearly a decade, regardless of which administration was in power at the time.
