MANILA, Philippines – Contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya could soon face criminal charges and detention over an alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental, after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) asked prosecutors to include him in the case.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon submitted a manifestation to the Office of the Ombudsman seeking to implead Discaya in the complaints filed on December 5, 2025. The case was earlier lodged with the Digos City Regional Trial Court against several DPWH officials and Discaya’s wife, Sarah Discaya. She has been detained in Lapu-Lapu City.

Unlike Sarah, Curlee is not in a prison facility – he is still under the custody of the Senate.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said on Monday, February 16, that the affidavits gathered by investigators point to Curlee as a possible “beneficial owner” of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, the firm that bagged the flood control contract.

Clavano explained that beneficial ownership refers to a person who exercises control or gives instructions within a company, even if their name does not appear in official corporate documents.

“There was a revelation in the affidavits of various people that Curlee Discaya has beneficial ownership or is exercising control over the companies involved in the Davao Occidental case,” Clavano said.

Establishing that link, Clavano noted, is crucial before prosecutors can formally include him in the charge sheet.

Despite the DPWH’s request, Discaya cannot automatically be added as an accused. Clavano stressed that he must first be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations, in keeping with due process.

The criminal complaints stemmed from a flood control project in Barangay Culaman that prosecutors said existed only on paper.

Records showed that the contract was awarded on January 22, 2022, yet investigators found no actual construction on the ground. Despite this, the DPWH-Davao Occidental District Engineering Office certified the project as “completed,” allowing Discya’s firm to secure the payment for the project.

Aside from Sarah Discaya, other respondents in the case are DPWH district engineer Rodrigo Larete, assistant district engineer Michael Awa, several DPWH section chiefs, project engineers and inspectors, as well as Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction.

They face charges for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) and for malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents. – Rappler.com