Mayor Vico Sotto raised doubts over the credibility of spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya after they went after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing on Monday, September 8.

The Discaya couple, key figures in the alleged multibillion-peso flood control scam, warned the public not to be swayed by what he described as their “paawa effect."

In a Facebook post, Sotto said it was “obvious” that several public officials and contractors were involved in the anomaly but noted that the Discayas appeared to be “angling to become state witnesses” to avoid liability.

“Obviously there are congressmen, DPWH officials, and contractors who are guilty. But the spouses Discaya are clearly angling to become state witnesses. Para di sila makulong. We know they are capable of lying,” Sotto wrote.

The mayor flagged inconsistencies in the Discayas’ statements, particularly in the testimony of contractor Curlee Discaya. He pointed out that Curlee’s claim that they only earned “2% to 3%” profit per project contradicted the couple’s previous public admission of being billionaires.

“Paano ka magiging bilyonaryo na ganun sa 2-3% profit? Presidente na mismo ang nakakita sa ghost project nila. Sinong gagawa ng ganun kalaking krimen para sa 2-3% na kita?” Sotto said.

The mayor also stressed that the real challenge lies in discerning the truth amid what he described as “half-truths and attempts to mislead” not only by the Discayas but also by others implicated in the scam.

“May we be vigilant and discerning,” Sotto added.

The Discayas, whose company Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corp. has been linked to “ghost” flood control projects, are under investigation by the Senate following reports of systemic irregularities involving billions of pesos in public funds.