MANILA – Contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and three former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan engineers—Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza—will not be home for Christmas after the Senate denied their requests for holiday furlough. The four have been detained at the Senate since September 2025, cited in contempt by the Blue Ribbon Committee for allegedly evasive and inconsistent testimonies during hearings on the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal.
Senate Blue Ribbon chair Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson recommended the denial, citing security risks and public statements from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla that arrest warrants are imminent. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada approved the recommendation, ensuring the detainees remain in custody through the holidays.
The men were held in contempt amid revelations of “ghost” and substandard flood control projects in Bulacan, where they served in the First District Engineering Office. Curlee Discaya, husband of arrested contractor Sarah Discaya, testified about alleged kickbacks but was accused of misleading the committee.
Sarah Discaya, meanwhile, is detained in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, facing non-bailable malversation and graft charges over a separate P96.5-million ghost project in Davao Occidental.
This decision underscores the Senate’s resolve in the probe, prioritizing accountability over holiday leniency—even as families await reunions.
Detention Snapshot:
| Detainee | Role | Reason for Contempt |
|---|---|---|
| Curlee Discaya | Contractor | Inconsistent statements |
| Henry Alcantara | Former Bulacan DE | Claimed ignorance of irregularities |
| Brice Hernandez | Former Asst. DE | Evasive testimony |
| Jaypee Mendoza | Former Engineer | Non-cooperation |