MANILA – Contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for allegedly lying during the panel’s resumed investigation on September 18, 2025, into anomalies in flood control projects.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III initially asked Discaya why his wife, Sarah, was absent from the hearing.

Curlee replied, “Hindi po siya makakarating dahil sa valid reason po.” Pressed for the specific reason, he said Sarah had a “heart condition” and had sent an excuse letter to the committee.

However, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who now chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee, read Sarah’s letter aloud during the hearing. It stated:

“Regrettably, I have an important meeting with my employees on the day of the hearing to explain the problem that the company is facing now and the effects this has on them. This meeting was already scheduled before I received the Honorable Committee’s invitation this late afternoon and some of my employees will be coming from various places, thus, I can no longer cancel the meeting set for tomorrow.”

Asked to explain the contradiction between his statement and his wife’s letter, Curlee insisted that Sarah, aside from her heart condition, also has diabetes and is on maintenance medication.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros pointed out that Curlee was becoming increasingly inconsistent in his statements about his wife’s condition.

“Lalo siya nalulubog sa baha ng mga mali-maling sagot niya,” Hontiveros said.

Senator Raffy Tulfo added, “Very inconsistent ang pinagsasabi nito. Mag-asawa sila at imposibleng hindi sila nag-uusap sa health condition ng misis niya. Pinagloloko tayo ng mga ‘to.” Tulfo then moved to hold Curlee in contempt, which was subsequently approved by Lacson.

In the same hearing, Alcantara was also cited in contempt for repeatedly denying knowledge of ghost flood control projects in Bulacan.

“Yun pong ghost projects na yan, talaga pong wala po akong alam sa ghost projects na yan,” he said.

He also denied any knowledge of alleged budget insertions for projects in Bulacan.

Tulfo expressed disbelief at Alcantara’s claims, noting that he was the head of Bulacan’s First District Engineering Office (DEO).

“District engineer ka, hindi mo alam na may ghost project? Wala ka rin alam lumobo ang budget mo. Hindi ba ‘yan dumadaan sa lamesa mo ‘yan na lumaki ‘yung pondo mo?” Tulfo said.

Lacson also questioned Alcantara’s denial, pointing out that his statements contradicted documents and testimonies linking him to questionable flood control projects flagged in the inquiry.

“The committee cannot accept these denials in the face of contrary documents,” Lacson emphasized.

As a result of the contempt citation, Curlee and Alcantara were ordered detained at the Senate detention facility under the custody of the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms of the Senate (OSAA), until the citation is lifted.

The Senate panel also issued a show-cause order to Sarah, giving her the opportunity to explain why she should not likewise be cited in contempt.

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