Discaya Surrender Strategic Move, Not Guilt Admission
The voluntary surrender of contractor Sarah Discaya represents a calculated legal strategy rather than an acknowledgment of wrongdoing in the controversial flood control project anomalies, according to her legal counsel.
Attorney Cornelio Samaniego III emphasized that surrender does not equate to guilt admission during a Wednesday interview with GMA Integrated News. "Only the court can determine the guilt of an accused or respondent in a case," Samaniego clarified in Filipino.
The lawyer revealed that Discaya chose to surrender because "she knows her conscience is clear and she can face any legal process regarding the case filed against her at the Digos Regional Trial Court."
Prepared Legal Strategy
Samaniego disclosed that the Discaya legal team had anticipated this scenario since the flood control project controversy first emerged. The decision to surrender voluntarily was part of their predetermined legal approach.
"Since the beginning, when this flood control project issue came out and since she engaged her lawyers, we discussed this as one of our legal strategies," he explained. The team decided not to wait for an arrest warrant before taking action.
Despite receiving threatening text messages and suspicious calls, Discaya remained focused on her legal defense strategy rather than being intimidated by external pressure.
Presidential Intervention and Charges
The surrender came after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced that an arrest warrant would be issued against Discaya in connection with anomalous flood control projects nationwide.
Discaya and her husband Pacifico face investigation after their construction firms were implicated in irregularities affecting the country's flood control infrastructure. Their company, Alpha and Omega General Contractor & Development Corporation, secured approximately 20% of national flood control contracts.
Specific Allegations
The contractor faces charges of malversation of public funds and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act related to a P96.5-million flood control project in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos town, Davao Occidental.
Samaniego defended the project's completion, noting that while the infrastructure suffered damage from natural disasters, repairs were conducted according to Department of Public Works and Highways protocols. "The project was completed last month based on documents provided by DPWH Davao Occidental," he stated.
The Discaya couple previously expressed willingness to serve as state witnesses in the investigation. However, the Office of the Ombudsman rejected this possibility, citing their significant involvement in the alleged anomalies.
This case represents a significant test of the current administration's anti-corruption efforts, particularly in infrastructure projects that directly impact rural communities vulnerable to flooding across the archipelago.