House subpoenas Discaya, 4 absent top contractors to flood control probe
MANILA, Philippines — The House Infrastructure Committee has subpoenaed five flood control contractors, including construction magnate Sarah Discaya, who skipped the first hearing on the “ghost” flood control projects uncovered by the president.
The five contractors include some of the country’s largest construction firms, which have managed billions in flood control projects.
- Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corp.
- Representative: Cezarah Rowena "Sarah" C. Discaya, who serves as the firm's president and is linked to eight other flood control contractors
- St. Timothy Construction Corp.
- Representative: Miguel Juntura, who serves as the firm's authorized managing officer and was once an employee of St. Gerrard Construction Corp
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Representative: Eumir C. Villanueva, who serves as the firm's president. He was absent at the Senate probe, cited in contempt and ordered arrested.
- Wawao Builders
- Representative: Mark Allan Villamor Arevalo, who serves as the firm's president and sole proprietor
- SYMS Construction Trading Corp.
- Representative: Sally N. Santos
In a letter dated September 4, they were warned that failure to comply with the subpoena for the September 9 hearing could result in contempt charges.
Request for lookout. Rep. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro Party-list), who chairs the joint committee, also issued a request for an immigration lookout bulletin order for Santos and former Philippine Construction Accreditation Board Executive Director Herbert Matienzo.
Authorities requested Matienzo’s presence at the House probe to respond to claims that PCAB licenses were improperly issued and sold to unqualified contractors.
The House Infra Comm has so far surfaced two major developments:
Former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara admitted to neglecting flood control projects flagged as substandard or abandoned, while confirming that he signed certificates of completion for them.
The committee also got on record Centerways Construction president Lawrence Lubiano’s admission of personally donating P30 million to Sen. Chiz Escudero’s 2022 senatorial campaign. It also noted that two of his brothers hold government positions in Sorsogon while his firm bagged over P5 billion worth of contracts over the past three years.
The first hearing, however, got off to a rocky start. Questions about alleged budget insertions sparked heated arguments among lawmakers, overshadowing the interrogation of invited contractors.
RELATED: Flood control contractors, DPWH officials watch as lawmakers butt heads in probe
Members of the joint committee have also been required to submit written statements confirming they have no conflicts of interest, following reports of lawmakers’ ties to contractors.
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