Curlee Discaya Now Facing the Music Too: Ombudsman Adds Contractor Husband to ₱96.5M 'Ghost Project' Case in Davao
It's no longer just Sarah Discaya in trouble — her husband, contractor Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II, has now been formally added as a respondent in the ₱96.5-million "ghost" flood control project case in Davao Occidental. The Office of the Ombudsman revealed that the DPWH submitted a manifestation implicating Curlee as the beneficial owner of the companies awarded the fraudulent contracts.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano dropped the hammer during a press briefing: "When you say beneficial ownership, it is all included. They are the ones who signed on behalf of the corporations even though they are not on paper. They are the ones giving instructions to the people in the company, exercising dominion over the company essentially." In other words, Curlee was allegedly running the show behind the scenes through shell companies.
The Ombudsman credited insiders from the company who came forward and pointed their fingers at Curlee. "We need to first look at the whole story and see if there are really people backing these corporations involved in flood-control projects," Clavano said. This is the first time formal allegations have been filed against Curlee in connection with the case.
Under the Revised Rules of the Ombudsman, Curlee has 10 days to reply to the complaint-affidavit. "After that, whether he replies or not, the prosecution can already determine whether there is prima facie case with reasonable certainty of conviction," Clavano added. Translation: respond or don't — the case moves forward either way.
Sarah Discaya has already been charged, detained, and is currently undergoing trial for graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds. Eight DPWH officials — including district engineers, project engineers, and finance chiefs — have surrendered to the NBI. The alleged scam? A revetment project in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental that was certified as complete by DPWH officials but was never actually built. Ghost project talaga — wala talagang ginawa. 👻
Source: Manila Bulletin
