Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla stressed that contractors Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya cannot be granted state witness status unless they return any questionable funds they may have obtained from flood control projects.
Appearing before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the Discayas named several lawmakers, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as allegedly being involved in corruption. They also expressed willingness to cooperate in the inquiry.
Remulla was firm that accountability must come first. “Kung meron silang nakukuhang perang hindi dapat, isauli nila sa republika. You don’t walk off laughing at the system because you enrich yourself and got away with the crime,” he said.
He explained that under the principles of the whistleblower law, immunity requires restitution. “You give it back to the state where it rightfully belongs before you can even be considered for immunity. We have to work on those premises,” he added.
The Justice chief said the Department of Justice has already tasked the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct forensic accounting to trace the money trail. “Forfeiture. At saka para, kung magkakaroon sila ng offer to return, tama ba ‘yung figure o hindi. Kinakailangang makita ‘yan, maging cooperative sila dapat when it comes to this,” he emphasized.
Remulla clarified that the Discayas were not connected to a lawyer who previously approached him about another contractor wanting to become a whistleblower.
He also noted that the DOJ is prepared to issue Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders against legislators and public officials implicated in the controversy, if the Senate requests it—even if it involves Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“We do not choose between rich and poor. We do not choose just to protect the rich and prosecute the poor. Kung sino ang may sala, tatamaan talaga sa batas. Hindi kami namimili dito,” he declared.
