Outrage Erupts as Discaya Seeks Preferential Detention in Flood Scam Case
DISCAYA – Calls for equal treatment under the law are growing louder after Discaya sought to be transferred back to NBI custody despite facing serious graft and malversation charges.
Many Filipinos are calling on the judiciary to ensure that no special privileges are extended to those implicated in the alleged PHP96.5-billion flood control ghost project in Davao Occidental. This appeal comes as contractor Sarah Discaya and eight other accused individuals requested to be returned to the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Public anger grew stronger after the accused, through their legal counsel, promptly filed a motion asking to stay under NBI custody, with Discaya seeking detention at the NBI facility in Pasay City. At the same time, her co-accused requested to remain at the NBI detention facility in Davao.
Discaya and her co-accused have been held at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail in Mactan, Cebu, since Saturday, December 20, 2025, in relation to charges of graft and malversation of public funds. Discaya has formally asked to be transferred back to the NBI detention facility in Pasay City.
Should her request be granted, she also intends to participate in court proceedings through video conferencing.
This move further fueled public frustration, as many perceived that Discaya appeared to be dictating the terms of her detention.
The court has allotted ten days for the Office of the Ombudsman to submit its response to the motion filed by Discaya and her co-accused, who are linked to the alleged flood control scam.
Photo Source: @Vico Sotto Fb
Lacson Recommends Not Granting Holiday Furlough to the Accused
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson Sr. advised Senate President Tito Sotto against approving any holiday furlough or temporary leave from the Senate detention facility for those accused in the flood control project. Among those mentioned were contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, and Henry Alcantara.
Lacson explained his position through posts on his social media accounts.
He stated:
“Walang pansamantalang bakasyon mula sa Senate detention-
“Because of security concerns, holiday furlough will not be allowed for contractor Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya II and the former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers detained at the Senate in connection with the anomalous flood control projects scandal.
“I recommended to the Senate President that their request for Christmas furlough be denied mainly for security reasons, owing to the repeated media statements from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that arrest warrants against them will be issued before Christmas.
“So the risk of escape becomes greater—not to mention that it makes no sense to grant such requests for Christmas leave if indeed warrants are coming out by then.”
Rather than approving a holiday furlough, Lacson said the families of the accused would instead be allowed to visit them at the Senate detention facility during the Christmas season.
READ ALSO:
Vico Sotto Fires Back: ‘Don’t Fall for the Victim Act,’ Says Mayor After Sarah Discaya’s Arrest