Discaya Ledger Exposes Top Officials and Engineers in Sept. 8 Senate Hearing
Monday, Sept. 8 (Manila, Philippines) – Dubbed the “King and Queen of Flood Control,” Sarah and Curlee Discaya attended the Senate hearing, expressing their intent to serve as state witnesses in the public infrastructure scandal, naming members of Congress and government engineers who allegedly demanded commissions from them.
During the hearing, Curlee revealed that commissions were paid in cash and documented in the Discaya ledger, which senators have moved to subpoena. He added that many of the payoffs occurred at a wine bar in Bonifacio Global City.
It came as no surprise when Curlee said DPWH officials often name-dropped Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co as one of the higher-ups allegedly demanding a share. He then went on to name other House representatives accused of extorting from them, including:
Curlee read from the list of House representatives who allegedly extorted from them, including:
- Roman Romulo (Pasig Lone District)
- James “Jojo” Ang (Uswag Ilonggo Partylist)
- Patrick Michael Vargas (Quezon City 5th District)
- Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde (Quezon City 1st District)
- Nicanor Briones (Agap Partylist)
- Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro (Marikina 1st District)
- Florida “Rida” Robes (formerly of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, now mayor of the same city)
- Eleandro Jesus Madrona (Romblon Lone District)
- Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao Jr. (Laguna 4th District)
- Florencio Gabriel “Bem” Noel (formerly of An-Waray Partylist)
- Leody “Odie” Tarriela (Occidental Mindoro Lone District)
- Reynante Arrogancia (Quezon 3rd District)
- Marvin Rillo (Quezon City 4th District)
- Teodorico “Teodoro” Haresco Jr. (formerly of Aklan 2nd District)
- Antonieta Eudela (formerly of Zamboanga Sibugay 2nd District)
- Dean Asistio (Caloocan City 3rd District)
- Marivic Co Pillar (Quezon City 6th District)
As Curlee continued his testimony, he alleged Eudela, Rillo, Briones, Arturo Atayde, Noel, Madrona, and Aggarao as among those who directly accepted kickbacks. He added that the rest allegedly sent bagmen to collect, whose phone numbers and faces he said he can provide to investigators.
The DPWH officials he named are as follows:
- Eduarte Virgilio (Region V)
- Ramon Arriola III (Unified Project Management Office or UPMO)
- Henry Alcantara (Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office or DEO)
- Robert Bernardo (Undersecretary)
- Aristotle Ramos (Metro Manila 1st DEO -Pasig City)
- Manny Bulusan (North Manila DEO)
- Edgardo C. Pingol (Bulacan Sub-Deo
- Michael Rosaria of (DPWH Quezon 2nd DEO)
He also identified Terence Calatrava, former undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV).