By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects this Monday, husband and wife entrepreneurs Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya dropped the names of some lawmakers that allegedly requested kickbacks on public works projects from them.
The Discayas claim that these personalities asked anywhere between 10-25% cut from the contract cost of fictitious infrastructure projects.
The list includes notable figures such as Terence Calatrava, former undersecretary [for] the Office of the Presidential Assistant of the Visayas; Quezon City Representative Arjo Atayde; and AGAP Partylist Rep. Nicanor Briones.
NCR
- Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas
- Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo
- Marikina City Rep. Marcy Teodoro
- Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo
- Caloocan City Rep. Dean Asistio
- Quezon City Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar
Provinces
- San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes
- Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona
- Laguna 4th District Rep. Benjamin Agarao, Jr.
- Occidental Mindoro Rep. Odie Tarriela
- Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia
Other lawmakers
- AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co
- USWAG Ilonggo Party-list Rep. Jojo Ang
- Former An-Waray Partylist Rep. Florencio Gabriel Noel
- Former Aklan 2nd District Rep. Teodorico Haresco, Jr.
- Former Zamboanga Sibugay 2nd District Rep. Antonieta Eudela
As of press time, Atayde, Teodoro, Romulo, Madrona, Robes, and Tarriela have issued their respective statements denying their alleged involvement in the flood control project controversy.
Meanwhile, the Discaya couple expressed readiness to become state witnesses and requested for protection from the government in exchange for crucial information regarding this pressing national issue.
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