The Discaya’s legal team denied allegations of substandard construction of flood control projects in Davao Occidental, which is currently under investigation, saying the work was completed, citing records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III explained that while portions of the project suffered damage, this was due to successive typhoons and other natural calamities, which necessitated repairs and caused temporary delays in work.
“Yung project na ‘yan, nakuha yan noong January 2022. Nag-umpisa sila [at] natapos. Nagkaroon ng natural calamities, kaya yung ibang portions na wash out,” Samaniego said.
He added that inspections by law enforcement authorities did not cover all parts of the project: “Noong pumunta nila doon, hindi naman nila pinuntahan lahat ng project na ginawa ng safety meeting doon.”
He stressed that the project involved the revetment of a river, making certain areas susceptible to flooding beyond the control of the contractors.
“So nagkaroon ng repairs, and then sunod-sunod yung bagyo, wash out ulit, hindi nakapagtrabaho ang korporasyon, hanggang nag-take over ang CIDG,” the legal counsel explained.
Samaniego also questioned why family members, including Maria Roma Angeline Rimando and Sarah Discaya, were implicated in the charges, noting that Sarah Discaya had no direct involvement in the construction company. He said other contractors involved in public works projects had not faced similar scrutiny.
“Nagkataka kami bakit pilit nilang idinidiin ang mga Discaya. Nasaan yung ibang kontraktor na umamin ng mga ghost projects talaga? Ito, walang ghost projects. Nagtataka kami eh,” Samaniego said.
The lawyer emphasized that all technical requirements and project specifications were met, and that the documentation and photographs submitted to the DPWH show the project was carried out as planned.
Last week, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. revealed that a flood control project worth P100 million in Culaman, Davao Occidental, is among the “ghost projects” that the DPWH previously reported. Based on the Office of the Ombudsman's findings, among the individuals named are Discaya and Rimando.
