Pre-Trial Reset for Sarah Discaya, Others in P96.5-M ‘Ghost’ Flood Control Case

The pre-trial for contractor Sarah Discaya, her company president Maria Roma Rimando, and eight Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in connection with the alleged P96.5-million “ghost” flood control project in Davao Occidental has been reset to February 27 by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City.

Judge Nelson Leyco granted the postponement to give both the defense and prosecution additional time to complete the pre-marking of documentary exhibits, a mandatory procedure aimed at streamlining the trial.

The accused DPWH officials include Rodrigo Larete, Michael Awa, Joel Lumogdang, Harold John Villaver, Jafael Faunillian, Josephine Valdez, Ranulfo Flores, and Czar Ryan Ubungen.

The Office of the Ombudsman–Visayas, which is prosecuting the case, had prepared a five-page pre-trial stipulation for the February 3 hearing.

Defense counsel Atty. Joseph Randi Torregosa, representing Engr. Larete, requested the postponement due to the “voluminous” evidence, which includes more than 4,000 pages in over 100 files stored in about three pieces of luggage.

The court allowed both sides to pre-mark exhibits on February 3–5 and February 11 and 13, with a joint pre-trial stipulation due by February 19 and a complete list of documentary exhibits by February 26.

On the same day, Judge Leyco denied motions for reconsideration, including requests to conduct an ocular inspection of the alleged flood control project.

The accused had argued that Supreme Court OCA Circular No. 328-2025, which mandates transferring cases outside the accused’s judicial region, does not apply to them.

The court maintained jurisdiction over the case.

Petitions for bail filed by the accused will be heard after the rescheduled pre-trial on February 27.

During the January 13 arraignment, legal counsel for Discaya and Rimando had verbally filed motions for bail and ocular inspection, asserting that the project in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, was built and completed.

All accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and malversation of public funds through falsification of commercial documents. (VCL)

Photo by Jacq Hernandez