Ombudsman Boying Remulla on Thursday ruled out the possibility of providing a blanket immunity to big-time contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, citing their “evasiveness” in divulging their alleged connection with the CLTG Builders, a firm reportedly tied to Senator Bong Go.
Remulla posits that the couple shields certain personalities, including Go, from being implicated in the flood control scheme, suggesting selective testimony that raises serious doubts about their credibility as potential state witnesses.
“They’re holding a lot [of information], very selective,” he said in Filipino in an interview. “It looks like Senator Bong Go is being protected for a conflict of interest, [so] they refused to speak.”
The CLTG, according to Remulla, stands for “Christopher Lawrence Tesoro Go,” a Davao City-based construction firm either allegedly owned by the senator’s father or brother that entered a joint venture with the Discayas.
The Discayas ran nine firms, bagging over P30 billion in government contracts for flood control during the first half of the Marcos administration.
Their licenses, however, were revoked in early September following Sarah’s admission in a Senate hearing that their companies bid against each other.
She also admitted that one of their firms, St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor and Development Corporation, entered a joint venture with CLTG in 2017, bagging several infrastructure projects across Davao, the senator's bailiwick.
The year covers the tenure of then-president Rodrigo Duterte, a close ally of the senator.
However, according to Go, he doesn’t personally know the Discayas, nor had any business dealings with them, saying he welcomes any investigation.
“Let the facts speak for themselves. I have nothing to hide, I have nothing to fear because I am innocent. I am not involved in any anomaly," Go said in a briefing on Thursday.
The senator also raised concerns that the ongoing probe into the flood control may be manipulated, suggesting a “cover-up.”
Remulla, however, warned that they would “go with the facts as we dig up everything,” saying the Ombudsman would not allow the Discayas' evasive attitude.
The Discayas implicated at least 19 House members, including former speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned lawmaker Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol, accusing them of receiving 10 to 25 percent kickbacks for every flood control project awarded to their firms.
House lawmakers have raised concerns that the couple is being selective, citing their financial statements from 2014 to 2023—covering past adminstrations—showing a sharp rise in their consolidated revenues.
They lamented that lawmakers in the previous 19th Congress are being singled out, suggesting that the Discayas are deliberately excluding those from the Duterte administration.
Nonetheless, the Ombudsman asserted that the awarding of contracts to CLTG clearly constitutes a conflict of interest on the part of Go, enough to stand on its own without the corroboration of the Discaya couple.
“That's why we told them, 'If you have a chance to get out of this, you should tell everything, and hide nothing.’ But they’re very evasive,” Remulla said.
Remulla, on the other hand, is certain that his office could build a strong case and prosecute the personalities involved in the flood control corruption scheme, whether or not the Discayas execute a “tell-all” testimony.
“We will have other means of looking at these people. Some will not be convicted because they don't want to cooperate, but one thing is sure: they will be convicted,” he said, referring to the Discayas.
The couple declared that they would no longer cooperate with the flood control probe of the Independent Committee on Infrastructure, though executive director Brian Hosaka said their withdrawal would not disrupt the investigation, as their existing affidavits are already ample for a case buildup against those involved.
The Discayas are currently facing charges for unpaid taxes totaling P7.18 billion. But aside from tax evasion, Remulla said they could also face plunder, direct and indirect bribery, and malversation, among other charges.