Contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya attend the Senate hearing on September 8, 2025. SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Prominent flood control contractors Sarah and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya rocked the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday (September 8) after naming lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials who allegedly demanded kickbacks for government infrastructure projects. The Discayas, owners of nine construction firms that secured billions in DPWH contracts, said public officials asked for commissions ranging from 10 percent to 25 percent per project. “Hindi po iaaward ang project kung hindi ka nagbigay (They would not award the project if you don’t give the kickback first),” Curlee testified. He added that the contractors were forced to comply to avoid project cancellations. “Paulit-ulit kaming ginamit ng mga opisyal sa sistemang ito (We are repeatedly being used by officials in this system),” Curlee said, accusing officials of creating artificial roadblocks if payments were not made. Among those named were House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Pasig Representative Roman Romulo, Quezon City 1st District Representative Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Representative James “Jojo” Ang, and Quezon City 5th District Representative Patrick Michael Vargas, among others. Curlee alleged that representatives or their bagmen personally collected money, sometimes at a wine bar in Bonifacio Global City. He also named several DPWH officials, including Undersecretary Robert Bernardo and regional engineers Eduarte Virgilio, Ramon Arriola III, Henry Alcantara, and Aristotle Ramos. Lawmakers quickly denied the allegations. Romulo said: “I strongly deny these malicious and fabricated allegations linking me to anomalous bidding. I was never involved in any bidding nor in selecting contractors for DPWH projects.” Romulo is an ally of Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, who defeated Sarah Discaya in the mayoralty race in May. Atayde also issued a categorical denial: “I have never dealt with them.” Atayde's wife, actress Maine Mendoza, released a statement defending him, calling the Discayas' accusations as "baseless". Meanwhile, Vargas said the Discayas never had projects in his district and vowed to sue, calling the accusation “a blatant lie.” Speaker Romualdez dismissed the allegations as “false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping,” adding: “I have never, and I will never, accept a bribe from anybody.” Other lawmakers, including Occidental Mindoro Representative Leody Tarriela, Romblon Representative Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Marikina Representative Marcelino Teodoro, and San Jose del Monte Mayor Rida Robes, also issued denials, calling the accusations “demolition jobs” and “cheap shots.” Senator Rodante Marcoleta, Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, said the panel will coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine whether the Discayas can qualify as state witnesses under Rule 119 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure. The Senate has moved to subpoena the couple’s alleged ledger of transactions, which they claimed documents the flow of kickbacks. Despite the sweeping denials, the Discayas insisted their projects were legitimate and that the payoffs eroded their earnings. “Napilitan kami na i-absorb ang kabawasan na ito,” Curlee said, explaining that their companies compensated by bidding for more projects. The kickbacks scandal is expected to trigger further investigations into ghost projects, contractor favoritism, and the alleged misuse of billions in flood control funds.

Full list: Lawmakers named by the Discayas in alleged kickback scheme

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, the Discayas alleged that several members of Congress and their intermediaries demanded commissions for flood control projects. Here is the list of lawmakers they named: Roman Romulo – Pasig Lone District Representative James “Jojo” Ang – Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Representative Patrick Michael Vargas – Quezon City 5th District Representative Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde – Quezon City 1st District Representative Nicanor Briones – Agap Partylist Representative Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro – Marikina 1st District Representative (now Marikina mayor) Florida “Rida” Robes – former San Jose del Monte Representative, now Mayor of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Eleandro Jesus Madrona – Romblon Lone District Representative Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao Jr. – Laguna 4th District Representative Florencio Gabriel “Bem” Noel – former An-Waray Partylist Representative Leody “Odie” Tarriela – Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Reynante Arrogancia – Quezon 3rd District Representative Marvin Rillo – Quezon City 4th District Representative Teodorico “Teodoro” Haresco Jr. – former Aklan 2nd District Representative Antonieta Eudela – former Zamboanga Sibugay 2nd District Representative Dean Asistio – Caloocan City 3rd District Representative Marivic Co-Pillar – Quezon City 6th District Representative The Discayas alleged that some lawmakers, including Atayde’s father Arturo Atayde, along with Eudela, Rillo, Briones, Noel, Madrona, and Agarao, personally collected kickbacks, while others sent intermediaries.

DPWH officials named in alleged kickback scheme

In their Senate Blue Ribbon Committee testimony, the Discayas also identified several DPWH officials who allegedly facilitated or demanded commissions. Here’s the full list of DPWH officials they named: Eduarte Virgilio – DPWH Region V Ramon Arriola III – Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Henry Alcantara – Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) Robert Bernardo – Undersecretary Aristotle Ramos – Metro Manila 1st District Engineering Office (Pasig City) Manny Bulusan – North Manila DEO Edgardo C. Pingol – Bulacan Sub-DEO Michael Rosaria – DPWH Quezon 2nd DEO The Discayas also implicated Terence Calatrava, former Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), in the alleged scheme. CAM/GAD/Expat Media
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