KIKO RAISES CONCERNS VS MAKING DISCAYAS STATE WITNESSES

SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Thursday expressed concerns over the possibility of putting Sarah and Curlee Discaya–contractors of the multi-billion anomalous flood control projects–under the government’s Witness Protection Program after citing inaccuracies in their testimonies.

This came after Curlee refused to answer the senator’s question during the Senate Blue Ribbon hearing about the contracts their companies entered into with the government from 2016 to 2022, given that they had previously provided information about their projects from 2022 to the present.

“Anyway, Mr. Chairman, mukhang hindi na naman nagsasabi ng katotohanan at selective kaya nga pinag-aaralan ni Senate President kung bakit irerekomenda ‘yung pagiging state witness eh mukhang hindi consistent at paiba iba,” Pangilinan said.

“Baka sakali habang siya ay naka-contempt ay makapag-isip siya ng mas maganda at maisabi nya na ‘yung buong katotohanan, ‘yung the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” he added.

Curlee was cited in contempt by the committee for lying about why his wife Sarah failed to attend the hearing.

The couple, who are in the middle of the massive infrastructure corruption that is currently the subject of twin investigations by the Senate and the House of Representatives, is seeking to be placed under the state’s witness protection program.

But Pangilinan has repeatedly opposed the idea, pointing out the inaccuracies and the inconsistencies in the Discayas’ testimonies.

He instead called on the couple to present a complete and unaltered account of the depth of their involvement in the irregularities in the flood control projects, and urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to rigorously verify the statements and supporting evidence to protect the integrity of the investigation.