Feast Day Overshadowed: Discayas Pin Government Officials in Flood Control Kickback Scheme

In the Philippines, September 8 is fondly remembered as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is, until top flood contractors Sara and Curlee Discaya wanted to be state witnesses in the flood control scandal.

The Discayas appeared before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, where they alleged that 18 public officials were demanding commissions from them. This includes one of their political rivals when Sara Discaya ran for Pasig City Mayor in the 2025 elections:

1. Cong. Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao, Jr. of Laguna
2. Cong. Jojo Ang of Uswag Ilonggo Partylist
3. Cong. Reynante “Reynan” Arrogancia of Quezon
4. Cong. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde of Quezon City
5. Cong. Dean Asistio of Caloocan
6. Cong. Nicanor “Nikki” Briones of the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc. (AGAP) Partylist
7. Terrence Calatrava – Former Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas of the Philippines
8. Cong. Marivic Co-Pilar of Quezon City
9. Cong. Antonieta Eudela of Zamboanga Sibugay
10. Former Cong. Teodorico “Teodoro” Haresco, Jr. of Aklan
11. Cong. Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon
12. Cong. Florencio Gabriel “Bem” Noel of An-Waray Partylist
13. Cong. Florida “Rida” Robes of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan
14. Cong. Marvin Rillo of Quezon City
15. Cong. Roman Romulo of Pasig
16. Cong. Leody “Odie” Tarriela
17. Cong. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro of Marikina
18. Cong. Patrick Michael Vargas of Quezon City
    

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer and Bulacan assistant district engineer, Brice Ericson Hernandez, also dropped a bombshell, implicating Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and ex-DPWH Engineer Henry Alcantara in alleged corrupt practices. 

But without concrete evidence to support their claims, they are just names that fail to drown out the noise. The investigations and discoveries have triggered literal mudslinging, with protesters vandalizing and throwing mud at the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City last September 4, 2025. 

However, what really got the ball rolling was Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto’s Facebook post, which criticized the media for allowing the Discayas to flaunt their lavish and questionable lifestyle. It triggered a series of investigations, while Sotto is currently testifying in the House probe on flood control. 

Significant changes took place almost immediately as the Senate investigations continued. Vince Dizon left the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and replaced Manuel Bonoan as the new DPWH Secretary. Meanwhile, Vicente Sotto III assumed the role of Senate President, while Senator Ping Lacson now chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“What’s in a name?” is a line from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, where the latter reflects on the idea that a person’s name does not determine their nature or worth, but rather their own character and actions.

By knowing the names, true reform and development can begin, to avoid issues like the flood control scandal in the future.