Curlee Discaya arrested at Senate over flood control case

MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested contractor Curlee Discaya at the Senate on Monday, June 8, on a warrant issued by a Malolos, Bulacan court.

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group served the warrant, which stemmed from Discaya’s alleged involvement in irregularities in flood control projects.

Discaya, one-half of a contractor couple implicated in several flood control projects, has been in Senate custody since Sept. 18, 2025, after being cited for contempt.

He was accused of lying about the whereabouts of his wife, Sarah Discaya, during one of the Senate’s probes into flood control projects.

In the case before the Malolos Regional Trial Court, Sarah is also a co-accused. She has been detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail since December 2025 for graft and malversation over a P96.5-million flood control project in Davao Occidental.

Other co-accused include Merg Jaron Laus, Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Ernesto Galang, Norberto Santos, Lorenzo Pagtalunan, Juanito Coronel Mendoza, Floralyn Simbulan and Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando.

Charges. Malversation of public funds or property through falsification of public documents under the Revised Penal Code was filed against the couple.

The Office of the Ombudsman lodged the charge on June 4 over a Department of Public Works and Highways contract for the rehabilitation of river control structures along Bulusan in Calumpit, Bulacan.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the alleged “financial injury to the government” caused by St. Timothy Construction Corp., the Discayas’ firm, amounted to around P53.9 million.

Ombudsman investigators found that the accused public officials allegedly allowed a contractor to misappropriate public funds intended for vital community infrastructure, which the anti-graft body said amounted to malversation of public funds.