MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) formally served an arrest warrant on controversial contractor Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya on Thursday night, December 18, 2025, in connection with the alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. Discaya, who had voluntarily surrendered to the NBI on December 9 in anticipation of the warrant, underwent standard booking procedures—including fingerprinting, mug shots, and a medical exam—before being transferred to the NBI detention facility in Muntinlupa.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the development in a video address, stating the court-issued warrants target Discaya and nine others for malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019). “These cases are non-bailable,” Marcos emphasized, adding that the accused—including Discaya—will remain detained pending trial.
The warrant stems from Ombudsman charges filed earlier in December, accusing Discaya (owner of St. Timothy Construction Corp.) and co-accused Maria Roma Rimando, along with former DPWH Davao Occidental officials, of falsifying documents to claim full payment for a nonexistent river dike project completed in 2022 records but absent on-site.
Discaya’s arrest caps weeks of high-profile scrutiny in the broader P20-billion flood control scandal, where her firms (linked to husband Curlee Discaya) allegedly cornered billions in contracts. She became emotional during processing, reportedly voicing concerns for her children’s welfare.
Her lawyer maintains cooperation and claims the project was completed but damaged by calamities. The case—now before Lapu-Lapu Regional Trial Court—marks a key prosecution milestone, with Marcos vowing more arrests and recoveries.
For a scandal exposing “ghost” infrastructure that failed communities during typhoons, Discaya’s detention signals accountability gaining ground—no bail means justice’s wheels turn without pause.
Case Details Snapshot:
| Charge | Malversation & Graft (RA 3019) |
|---|---|
| Project Value | P96.5 million |
| Location | Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental |
| Status | Warrant served; non-bailable detention |
| Co-Accused | 9 others (including Rimando, DPWH officials) |