DOJ: Discaya couple should return ill-gotten assets, cooperate fully

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said contractors Curlee and Sara Discaya should return any ill-gotten assets, if any, in favor of the government.

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said the couple would be “very lucky” if they were still accepted into the Witness Protection Program (WPP) and allowed to freely use the money they allegedly obtained from anomalous projects.

“I think it is only right that the people get back whatever they can from those responsible and committing crimes,” Fadullon added.

The Discaya couple were earlier considered “protected witnesses” under the DOJ’s WPP, but they eventually stopped cooperating after dropping names of personalities allegedly involved in questionable flood control projects—claims that were not supported by additional evidence.

Fadullon said the couple had repeatedly promised a full tell-all but never complied. He added that they should not hide behind the issue of restitution and must disclose everything if they want to be evaluated for witness protection.

He also stressed that the Discayas should not evade accountability by pointing to investigations being conducted outside the DOJ while refusing to share information with the department.

Sara Discaya voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that an arrest warrant against her would be issued this week in connection with a P96.5 million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.

Asked if it was too late for the couple to revive their WPP application, Fadullon said it was not too late, but “very late already.”

“Like I said, we will not be chasing after them. We will not be –courting them. If they want and they have some information to give and they really wanted to cooperated with the government they should give the ionformation here, if they really wanted to help we will listen,” Fadullon said.