Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro on Tuesday blasted contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II for what she called “selective amnesia,” accusing him of concealing the names of officials who demanded kickbacks during the Duterte administration despite previously implicating lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in later years.
During the House Committee on Infrastructure’s inquiry, Discaya admitted that money was also solicited from him between 2016 and 2022 but declined to identify the officials involved. This contradicted his affidavit submitted to the Senate, where he named lawmakers and DPWH officials in connection with alleged anomalies from 2023 to 2024.
Luistro reminded Discaya that testimony under oath requires full disclosure, warning that his refusal to identify those involved in earlier years cast “strong doubt” on the credibility of his sworn statement. “There is an admission already from the resource person that even during the past administration ay may nanghihingi. However, it appears na he refused to disclose the names, unlike the way he did in his affidavit,” Luistro said.
She also pointed out that Discaya and his firms—collectively known as the Discaya Group of Construction Companies—cornered ₱12 billion worth of contracts during the Duterte years, ranking first nationwide among contractors with the biggest awarded projects. “I wish to ask Mr. Chair, nagkaroon ba ng selective amnesia si Mr. Discaya? Tanda niya yung mga nanghingi sa kanya during the past administration?” she added. Luistro stressed that the veracity of Discaya’s affidavit was now questionable.
“Hindi pwedeng ang i-disclose mo lang, '23 up to '24, and then 2016 to 2022, nakalimutan mo na. How can that be possible Mr. Discaya? The veracity of your affidavit is full of inconsistencies. It is full of false testimony,” she said.
The joint inquiry—composed of the Committees on Public Accounts, Public Works and Highways, and Good Government and Public Accountability—is investigating ghost and substandard flood control projects flagged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The probe has so far led to the resignation of Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) officials, the revocation of all licenses of Curlee and Sarah Discaya, and the dismissal of DPWH officials implicated in anomalous projects in Bulacan province.