Lacson: Blue Ribbon flood control probe over soon

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December 12, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigation on flood control corruption will soon wrap up to give way to the cases filed in court, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson confirmed yesterday.

In a chance interview, Lacson said his committee would come up with a report and recommend charges, as it would soon be bound by the sub judice rule if the flood control corruption cases go on trial in the Sandiganbayan and other lower courts.

However, he said he was glad to have led the committee which contributed to the Department of Justice and Independent Commission for Infrastructure investigations on the alleged kickbacks scheme from substandard or non-existent projects.

“By and large, we have contributed a lot to the efforts of the national government to get to the bottom of this,” Lacson noted.

In a separate ambush interview, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the resource persons detained in the Senate due to the flood control corruption probe would spend Christmas and New Year while under custody for contempt.

The Senate would provide them noche buena or a Christmas feast if it comes to that, he said.

Among those under Senate custody for contempt are dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, and flood control contractor Curlee Discaya.

Sarah Discaya: I feel safe at NBI

Meanwhile, Curlee’s wife Sarah on Wednesday said she is confident about her safety under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as she awaits the possible issuance of an arrest warrant in connection with alleged anomalous flood control projects.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Discaya said she voluntarily went to the NBI on Tuesday but stressed that her appearance should not be taken as surrender.

“This is more of safekeeping. Only those who run away are guilty,” she said.

Discaya admitted that the situation has taken an emotional toll on her and her children.

“My kids are affected. I try to stay strong for them. You want to cry but you stop yourself so they won’t see it,” she said.

Discaya added she felt “some relief” after being placed in NBI custody, saying she is now “somewhere safe.”

Discaya and several DPWH personnel in Davao Occidental face malversation and falsification charges over a nearly P100-million ghost project.

The NBI earlier reported that eight DPWH officials had also voluntarily submitted themselves to the agency.

According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Discaya’s surrender is a “big help” to authorities, as it demonstrates good faith even as the case now moves to the courts.

According to Remulla, law enforcement agencies are working in sync in the flood control investigations. - Mark Ernest Villeza