The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday served the arrest warrant against controversial contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, a key figure in the flood control corruption controversy. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said a sufficient number of police personnel were deployed to the Senate to serve the warrant issued by a regional trial court in Bulacan. Discaya had been under Senate custody since late last year after being cited in contempt during a hearing on flood control projects for giving inconsistent statements on the absence of his wife, Cezarah Rowena “Sarah”, at the ongoing inquiry into alleged anomalies in flood control projects. “The arrest warrant was implemented in accordance with the law and established procedures in close coordination with the Senate to ensure an orderly, lawful, and transparent turnover process,” Nartatez said in a statement. “There will be no special treatment. All persons subject to lawful arrest will be accorded the same standards of professionalism and due process,” he added. The Office of the Ombudsman filed last week a case against Discaya and several others for violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code pertaining to malversation of public funds or property, through falsification of public documents in relation to Articles 171(4) and 48, over an allegedly anomalous flood control project in Bulacan. On Friday, Branch 20 of the Bulacan Regional Trial Court ordered the arrest of Discaya, his wife Cezarah and nine others all facing non-bailable charges. Some of those covered by the arrest order, including Discaya’s wife and three other accused, are already detained in at least three detention facilities in connection with other cases. Nartatez said he expects the warrant to be implemented against all co-accused who are not yet in custody.
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