Senate cites Curlee Discaya, Alcantara in contempt over ‘lying’ in hearing

The Senate blue ribbon panel has cited contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and former Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara in contempt for lying during the hearing on anomalous flood control projects on September 18.

The panel first cited Mr. Discaya for lying about the reason for his wife Cezarah Rowena’s “Sarah” absence.

He said that his wife filed an excuse letter to the committee for her inability to attend the hearing due to a “valid reason.”

“May…heart condition siya. Nagpadala siya ng letter [rito], hindi ko lang nabasa kung ano ang iba pang content,” Mr. Discaya admitted.

However, the actual letter from Sarah did not state she was absent for health reasons, as read by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

“Regrettably, I have an important meeting with my employees on the day of the hearing to explain the problem that the company is facing now and the effects this has on them,” Mrs. Discaya stated in her letter.

“This meeting was already scheduled before I received the Honorable Committee’s invitation this late afternoon, and some of my employees will be coming from various places. Thus, I can no longer cancel the meeting set for tomorrow (September 18),” she added.

The committee panelists fumed at Mr. Discaya for seemingly “disrespecting” the proceedings.

“With that letter, nagsisinungaling itong si Mr. Discaya na meron daw karamdaman ‘yung kaniyang asawa,” Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said.

“This hearing is of national interest. Huwag niyong lolokohin ang hearing na ito. Huwag niyong bababuyin ang hearing na ito dahil the Filipino people are watching,” Sen. Jinggoy Estrada added.

Pangilinan questioned the need for proof when Mr. Discaya is “clearly lying,’ while Sen. Erwin Tulfo and Estrada demanded a medical certificate for Sarah.

Mr. Discaya said he had no intention of lying when asked about why he should not be cited for contempt.

“May sakit po talaga siyang diabetes at…hypertension. At katunayan nga, marami siyang mga maintenance na gamot na ginagamit,” he said, referring to his wife Sarah.

Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros pointed out the inconsistencies in Mr. Discaya’s reasoning, citing that a heart condition differs from diabetes and hypertension.

She also added that Sarah’s meeting with their clients is not a valid excuse for absence in the hearing.

“Lalo siyang nalulunod sa baha ng mga mali-maling sagot niya,” Hontiveros said.

Lacson initially advised the committee members to issue a show-cause order for Mr. Discaya to adhere to due process, but later unanimously decided to cite him in contempt.

He added that Sarah will be issued a show-cause order to further explain her absence.

Later in the hearing, the committee also cited former Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara in contempt for lying about his involvement in ghost flood control projects in Bulacan.

“Your honor, ‘yung ghost projects na ‘yan, talagang wala akong alam,” Alcantara claimed.

Tulfo urged the committee to cite Alcantara in contempt for allegedly lying in two hearing sessions, citing that it is unreasonable for the latter to deny affiliation with the ghost projects when he was the DPWH district engineer.

“Dalawang hearing na itong nagsisinungaling. Sa mga taong nasa baba, lahat may kasalanan, ikaw wala. District engineer ka, hindi mo alam na may ghost projects. Wala ka rin alam, lumubo ‘yung budget mo. Hindi ba dumadaan sa lamesa mo ‘yan na lumaki ‘yung pondo mo?” Tulfo said.

“Kami naman, ‘pag lumalabas sa GAA (General Appropriations Act), ini-implement lang namin ‘yung project. Actually po ‘yung sinasabi ko sa ghost project, [talagang] wala akong alam diyan,” Alcantara replied.

However, Tulfo dismissed his explanation as unacceptable and put forward the motion to cite him in contempt, which was unanimously agreed upon by the panel.

Senate hearings are currently ongoing to investigate the alleged anomalies in flood control projects and corruption in fund allocations from 2022 to 2024.