Nine construction companies owned by a couple, Sarah and Pacifico II Discaya, allegedly competed against each other in public biddings for government contracts under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada revealed during the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation.
Estrada extracted an admission from Sarah, further highlighting allegations of collusion and irregularities in the awarding of DPWH flood control projects.
While initially denying the alleged rigging of project bids, Sarah eventually admitted that some of her companies did participate in the same bidding process.
“Si Alpha and Omega (General Contractor and Development Corp.) at St. Gerrard (Construction and Development Corp.), hindi po sila sumasali sa isang bidding. Pero ‘yung ibang licenses, magkakasama sila minsan,” Sarah was quoted as saying to the veteran lawmaker after Estrada threatened to secure records from DPWH to validate the mock biddings.
Aside from Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corp. and St. Timothy Construction Corp.—which are among the top 15 contractors identified by President Marcos as having cornered the most flood control projects—Sarah admitted during the hearing that she also has a beneficial interest in the following construction firms that secured government contracts for flood control projects: St. Gerrard Construction and Development Corp., St. Matthew General Contractor and Development Corp., Elite General Contractor and Development Corp., Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corp., YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply Inc., Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc., and Way Maker One Person Corp.
According to the citizen portal www.sumbongsapangulo.ph, which lists all supposedly completed flood control projects in the country, the nine Discaya-owned construction firms were awarded more than 400 government contracts amounting to around ₱30 billion from 2022 up to the present.
“So minsan naglalaban-laban ‘yung siyam?” Estrada pressed, to which Sarah answered in the affirmative.
“That is not a legitimate bidding. Dahil ‘yung siyam na ‘yon na naglalaban-laban sa isang kontrata, iisa lang ang may-ari. So kahit sino doon, kahit sinong manalo sa bidding na ‘yon, ikaw ang panalo. Dahil sa’yo lahat ‘yon,”Estrada said, emphasizing the implication of Sarah’s admission.
Estrada stressed that these irregularities compromise transparency and accountability, ultimately robbing taxpayers of honest and efficient public service.
Meanwhile, Sarah admitted owning 28 luxury vehicles that her family purchased through luxury car importers Frebel Enterprises and Autoart Luxury Cars, with a combined value close to P200 million. Her family’s car collection includes a Rolls Royce Cullinan worth P42 million, Mercedes Benz Maybach (P22 million), Bentley Bentayga (P20 million), Mercedes Benz-AMG Wagon G63 (20 million), two units of Cadillac Escalade (worth P11 million each), two units of GMC Yukon Denali (P11 million each), Range Rover Autobiography (P16 million), Range Rover Defender (P7 million), Range Rover Evoque (P5 million), and Chevrolet Suburban (P3 million).