NBI DIRECTOR Jaime Santiago yesterday said he has ordered an investigation into the bureau’s ongoing building project in Manila worth P2.4 billion after finding out that the contractors involved are two companies owned by the couple Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya.
Santiago said it was the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that conducted the bidding and awarded the contract for the project that will become the main headquarters of the bureau.
He said the award was made before he was appointed as NBI chief last year and so far, only the foundation of the building has been laid since construction started in 2022 or 2023.
“Our building there (on Taft Avenue) was taken down to pave the way for the construction of our new building. So, we were able to get an initial budget of P2.4 billion. But, I found out that two contractors, construction companies were both Discaya,” Santiago told reporters in Filipino.
He said his office will coordinate with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on the next step, whether construction should be temporarily halted while the probe is underway.
He clarified that the investigation must not be seen as confirmation of any irregularity but rather to ensure that the construction is up to standards.
Santiago also said the bidding process for some of the flood control projects undertaken by the DPWH had been rigged.
He said seven to eight contractors have received the largest share of the flood control contracts and they also have the same sets of officers.
“We saw rigging in the bidding process. For example, A, B,C, D, E contractors have the same sets of officers. So, no matter who wins, the contract still goes to them,” he said.
Santiago also said NBI regional offices have initiated investigations on flood control projects visited by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos earlier said that around 20 percent of P545 billion in flood control projects were cornered by 15 contractors, including St. Timothy Construction Corp. owned by the Discaya couple.
Sarah has told a Senate hearing that she owned nine companies that bid for DPWH projects, and that sometimes they bid against each other.
DOJ CONTRACTS
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said “nobody will be spared” from the investigation into anomalies in the DPWH’s flood control projects.
“We will call a spade a spade… All those who are involved will be charged and held accountable),” Remulla told reporters in mixed Filipino and English.
As part of investigations into anomalies in government project contracts, Remulla said they will also look into contracts of the Department of Justice (DOJ), like the NBI building, to determine if the 15 construction companies named by Marcos are also involved.
Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said the department has created the Public Works Corruption and Bid Rigging Task Force to look deeper into the flood control mess.
He said the task force will be composed of various NBI units. Accountants will also be included in the task force to conduct forensic accounting and to look at the possible money laundering aspect.
Andres said the task force will also coordinate with the newly created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that is tasked to look into infrastructure programs undertaken in the last 10 years, starting with the DPWH’s flood control projects.
Santiago said Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon will chair the task force, with the NBI’s Public Corruption Division acting as lead investigator.
Asked what is task force’s priority, Andres said it will start its probe on the 15 construction companies named by Marcos.
COMPLAINTS
The “sumbongsapangulo.ph” website has received 16,275 complaints on suspected anomalous flood control and other public infrastructure projects, and these will be turned over to the ICI, Palace Press officer Claire Castro said.
The website, launched by the President on August 11, receives reports from the public on alleged anomalous projects including incomplete, substandard or “ghost” flood control projects in their areas.
The President has personally inspected some of the projects that have been reported on the website.
The ICI was created by Marcos on September 11 through Executive Order No. 94. It is headed by retired Supreme Court Associate justice Andres Reyes Jr. as chairman, and former DPWH head Rogelio Singson and SGV and country managing partner Rossana Fajardo are members.
Castro defended the creation of the ICI which she said is part of efforts to ensure that due process is observed during the probe on the suspected anomalous projects.
She issued the statement amid the pronouncement of Vice President Sara Duterte that the ICI probe is “nothing” as it is “too little, too late.”
“The President took actions and worked. The people have seen how the President responded to the grievances of our countrymen, especially regarding the anomalous flood control projects, but can this be seen because she said it was nothing?” Castro said in Filipino.
“Compared to the previous administration, where the (former) president himself admitted corruption, and the existence of many ghost projects, what would we call that period? Living hell?” she added.
Castro was referring to a speech of former president Rodrigo Duterte, father of the Vice President, in 2017 where he said that he himself had received some public funds but they had already been used up.
She said that if the Vice President had some solutions for corruption, she should have recommended those first to her father.
“Why didn’t she?” Castro said.
“This is probably the reason why corruption was not addressed under the previous administration, because the former president himself admitted that he was corrupt; he admitted he stole public funds but it has already been exhausted,” she added.
Castro reminded the younger Duterte that a thorough investigation takes time and Marcos does not believe in an “EJK (extrajudicial killing)-style” approach to solving problems.
“Ang pag-iimbestiga po ay hindi po kailangang isang araw lang. Hindi po naniniwala ang Pangulo sa isang EJK-style — walang imbestigahan, libingan ang hantungan. Ang gusto ng Pangulo, due process (Investigations are not completed in a day. The President does not believe in an EJK-style — no investigations, just end up in grave. The President wants due process),” she said.
Castro said Marcos also does not make empty promises, unlike the previous administration that promised to solve corruption in three to six months. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
