Groups storm Discaya compound; activists protest at DPWH

MANILA, Philippines — Activists from various groups stormed the gate of St. Gerrard Construction in Pasig City yesterday, targeting what they called corrupt contractors and politicians behind anomalous flood control projects.

The protesters hurled mud at the gate and spray-painted words such as “magnanakaw,” “kurakot” and “ikulong” on the company’s walls and fence.

St. Gerrard is owned by contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya, who have been tagged as beneficiaries of questionable projects.

“We chose to come here to one of the companies of the so-called ‘Flood Control Queen and King,’ the Discayas, to show and bring the people’s anger against thieves,” said Jonila Castro, spokesperson for the environmental group Kalikasan.

“While we are being submerged in floods and mud, they are sinking in stolen money,” she added.

Pasig police chief Col. Hendrix Mangaldan said the protesters had no permit to rally and may be liable for malicious mischief and vandalism.

“With or without permit, we always implement our maximum tolerance policy. But in situations like this, we cannot allow property damage,” Mangaldan said. He said the decision on possible legal action rests with the owners, but police are ready to coordinate if needed.

Meanwhile, Discaya’s camp said they would file a criminal complaint. CCTV footage is being reviewed to identify those who stormed the firm’s property.

“I don’t understand why the Discayas are always being singled out. We follow the law, we attend Senate hearings, yet we are treated like this,” said the couple’s lawyer Cornelio Samaniego III. “This fight should be about documents, not violent acts.”

For his part, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, in a Facebook post, appealed for calm.

“I understand the anger and frustration, but let’s not resort to violence. If the gate falls or stones fly, it won’t be the corrupt who will get hurt, but guards, workers and even the protesters themselves,” Sotto said.

Sotto added that the local government is coordinating with at least five national agencies in investigating the Discaya companies, while pursuing cases on illegal structures and tax delinquencies.

“Don’t feel hopeless. The momentum is on the right side now. Let us continue to fight for accountability, stronger institutions and the rule of law. There are no shortcuts,” he said.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla appealed against protests denouncing those allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects.

“That’s very unfortunate and we’re not encouraging people to do that. Law enforcement has to maintain law and order in our country. This should not be tolerated because it can trigger a kind of hysteria that we don’t need in this country. We need to be stable,” he said.

Protesters hit DPWH headquarters

In Manila, rallyists stunned law enforcers guarding the headquarters of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after they were hit with stinky water and rotten vegetables were thrown at them.

Past 9 a.m. yesterday, around 60 protesters from Anakbayan trooped to the DPWH main office along Bonifacio Drive and held their protest denouncing the corruption in flood control funds, according to a report from the Manila Police District (MPD).

After dispersing at 10 a.m., the protesters hurled balloons that contained foul-smelling water and rotten vegetables at the barricade of policemen and guards. The MPD personnel formed a human shield using their anti-riot shields while the balloons were thrown at them.

Following the rally, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso warned that the city government would not tolerate any sign of unrest in the city.

“I already directed General Abad and the MPD, I will not tolerate mob rule in the city,” he said in a media briefing, referring to MPD acting director Brig. Gen. Arnold Abad.

“I will not allow disturbing, destroying offices of government and particularly, allow to destroy the peace of any individual residing in the City of Manila,” Domagoso added.

28 Discaya cars under BOC custody

All the 28 luxury cars reportedly owned by the Discaya family are now in the custody of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“Today, September 4, the Discaya family surrendered 16 additional vehicles, on top of the 12 vehicles earlier secured through a court-ordered search at the St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor & Development Corp. compound in Pasig City,” the BOC said in a statement yesterday.

On Sept. 2, the BOC was able to secure 12 of their luxury cars mentioned in the search warrant. Two other cars seen that day— a Cadillac and Jaguar— that were not part of the search warrant are among the 16 cars formally placed in the BOC’s custody yesterday.

“The 16 vehicles are now undergoing processing by the BOC for sealing and documentation… pending verification of importation records and assessment of duties and taxes,” it added.

The two cars found last Tuesday were a Toyota LC300 3.3 V6 ZX AT SUV 2024 and a Maserati Levante Modena 2022. A Rolls Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, Mercedes Benz G-500, Mercedes AMG G 63 AMG, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Cadillac Escalade, a GMC Yukon Denali and two units of Lincoln Navigator were surrendered that evening.

Yesterday, the 16 cars turned over to the BOC were the brilliant blue Mercedes-Benz GLE 2500; black Land Rover Range Rover LWB, pangea green Land Rover Defender 130S, black Cadillac Escalade ESV, black Ford Bronco, obsidian black Mercedes-Benz GLS 350, alpine white BMW X5 30D, black Jaguar F-PACE 20D AWD, grey Porsche Cayenne V6, onyx black Volvo XC90, flint grey Mercedez-Benz Avant, red Land Rover Range Rover EVO-F, arctic white Mercedez-Benz Sprinter, ATV Quicksand, Yukon Denali, and ATV Gray.

The 28 cars are jointly being secured by personnel from the BOC and the Philippine Coast Guard. The BOC said it would seek the help of the Land Transportation Office as it continues with its investigation on the 28 cars.

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno yesterday said he had given the Discaya family 10 days to submit the documents of their 12 luxury cars and prove their claim of legal purchase.

“They have 10 days to prove their innocence, that they are the real buyers in good faith. So we will base our investigations and conclusions on the documents,” Nepomuceno said over ANC’s “Headstart.”

Nepomuceno said that by end of next week, they would have completed matching the documents to be submitted by the Discayas with the bureau’s records to determine if there were discrepancies in the documents of the 12 cars, if any of them were smuggled or if the duties and taxes were underpaid.

For its part, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) has completed its verification and submitted the results of its validation to the BOC on the luxury vehicles owned by the Discaya couple.

“So far there we saw no irregularities but the information sought by the BOC, we forwarded it to them,” HPG spokesman Lt. Nadame Malang said yesterday.

When pressed by reporters, Malang said the details about the vehicles are in order – these are the license plates, motor vehicle file numbers and names of the registered owners.

“There are ongoing meetings with BOC together with the HPG and we will give you the updates once it concludes,” Malang said.

Meanwhile, an information technology (IT) expert involved in setting up the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) platform of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said the agency should be investigated for the highly anomalous registration of Discaya’s 12 imported luxury cars.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) issued a separate statement demanding “full accountability and transparency in the flood control projects, and call on the proper government institutions and agencies to persistently investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who will be found liable in defrauding the government and the people through these projects.”

For its part, the Church Leaders Council for National Transformation expressed its condemnation of the “brazen corruption” in the flood con- trol projects. –  Ghio Ong, Evelyn Macairan, Emmanuel Tu- pas, Rainier Allan Ronda, Daphne Galve