Senate Pro Tempore Questions Eligibility of Flood Control Contractors as State Witnesses

During the "Kapihan sa Senado" forum on Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson expressed skepticism regarding the qualification of flood control contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya to become state witnesses. This statement counters the earlier appeal made by former Blue Ribbon Committee chair Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who had sought witness protection for the couple.

Lacson pointed out the inconsistency in the Discayas' testimonies, noting that their statements before the Senate and the House of Representatives investigations did not align. He remarked, "Eh kasi ng-retract sila, pagdating sa House iba naman ang sinasabi. How can they qualify kung hindi definite yung kanilang testimonya, pag nasa House iba sinasabi, pag nandito iba?" emphasizing the need for definitive and consistent accounts.

Highlighting the situation further, Lacson commented, "Anyway, titingnan natin. Baka dumating yung punto na kapag nandito sila, mag-tell all, i-evaluate natin." He also criticized their request for immunity as "opportunistic," since the couple appeared to have profited from the corruption scheme they were testifying about.

The senator clarified that the Senate does not have the authority to grant witness protection or immunity and underlined the importance of personally assessing the couple's credibility before making any judgment.

Previously, Senator Marcoleta had formally requested the Department of Justice to provide witness protection for Curlee and Sarah Discaya, owners of St. Gerrard Construction. The company is implicated in investigations concerning ghost or substandard flood control projects. Marcoleta justified the request by citing the necessity of their testimony for the ongoing inquiry and reports of threats against their safety.

However, this appeal became moot after a leadership reshuffle in the Senate, where Panfilo Lacson replaced Marcoleta as the Blue Ribbon Committee chair following Vicente Sotto III's election as Senate President.

The developments highlight ongoing challenges in securing credible testimonies in high-profile corruption investigations related to flood control projects.