The contractor couple, Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, are willing to cooperate with authorities and confess everything they know of the flood control scandal on one condition: that they be granted witness protection.
This was revealed by the couple’s legal counsel, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III in an exclusive interview at DZRH Damdaming Bayan on Wednesday, October 8, stating, “On the condition na bigyan naman ng proteksyon ‘yung aking kliyente. Kasi mahirap naman ‘yan na mag execute siya ng affidavit, magbigay siya ng mga dokumento na walang malinaw na batayan na kung bibigyan talaga siya ng proteksyon ng DOJ, ng ating pamahalaan, na maging protected witness, or hindi siya isama sa charge, or gawing state witness.”
Samaniego explained that this will manifest in the form of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and his clients. Moreover, he said that the Discaya couple is always present during the hearings conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), and previously, with the House Infrastructure Committee.
“Ano pa ho ba ang sinseridad na gustong makuha ng publiko at ng ating gobyerno para sa spouses Discaya? Sincere ho sila,” he said, adding that he hopes there will be a MOA between the DOJ and his clients so that the latter can submit all the required documents and evidence for the investigation.
When asked whether the couple would also request a change in identity or relocation after the Senate and ICI have completed their investigation, Samaniego said the couple is willing to cooperate and will not specifically request such a change.
“Ang sabi nga ni Mr. Discaya before pa noong sinabihan niya ako, mas maganda na lang na mamatay siya pagsiwalat sa mga ganitong korapsyon sa DPWH para makatulong siya sa lipunan. Kesa naman mamatay siya na walang saysay ‘yung pagkakamatay niya…Mas maigi na lang daw na mamatay siyang may silbi sa lipunan,” he said in response.
With this, Samaniego reiterated that all the Discaya couple ask for is protection.
“Nasaan naman ‘yung proteksyon namin. Nasaan naman ‘yung proteksyon na hindi siya macha-charge criminally. Importante po kasi ‘yon kasi ang ibibigay namin ay affdavit. Kailangan may proteksyon naman ‘yung kliyente namin from prosecution,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Discaya camp filed a petition for habeas corpus before the Supreme Court, appealing for the release of Curlee Discaya from the Senate’s detention facility.
The latter was previously cited in contempt by the Blue Ribbon Committee, concerning his explanation about his wife’s absence from the hearing on September 18.
