Controversial contractor Sarah Discaya appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday morning for the preliminary investigation into her P7.18-billion tax evasion case.

RH Jecelle Ricafort reports that Discaya arrived at the DOJ at around 9 a.m., flanked by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents. She was wearing a bulletproof vest and had her face partially covered with a small towel.

NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari told DZRH that Discaya was first brought back to the agency’s office in Pasay City after the hearing concluded early, partly to attend to certain administrative matters.

Later in the afternoon, at around 4 p.m., Discaya is scheduled to be flown to Cebu, where she will face the court and have the arrest warrant served at Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27.

The proceedings are linked to her P96.5-million “ghost” infrastructure project in Davao Occidental. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that corruption-related cases tied to infrastructure projects should be filed with the anti-graft court closest to the relevant judicial region.