Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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<div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768269707480G-ghmHibMAACZ8n_cropped_processed_by_imagy.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sarah Discaya sits inside the Branch 27 of the Regional Trial Court Lapu-Lapu City for her arraignment. Annie Perez</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(3rd UPDATE) </strong>— Detained contractor Sarah Discaya and her nine other co-accused on pleaded not guilty to graft and malversation charges in relation to a P96.5-million &quot;ghost&quot; flood control project in Davao Occidental.</p><p>During the arraignment at the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 of Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu, Discaya, St. Timothy Construction Corp. executive Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, and eight Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials all pleaded not guilty before Presiding Judge Nelson Leyco.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768280455014Screenshot 2026-01-13 125921_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Sarah Discaya in the courtroom. Photo courtesy of Vilma Andales/Screengrab</em></span></span></span> </div><p>Before the proceedings, the legal team of the accused sought to reset the arraignment, saying that they had just received the court resolution denying their motion to quash earlier in the day.</p><p>“We ask for more time to study other possible options,” said Atty. Paul Sato, counsel for the DPWH offcials. </p><p>However, the court reiterated that the defense could still avail of legal remedies in spite of the arraignment.</p><p>The defense teams were considering filing a petition for certiorari and a motion for reconsideration, especially on their challenge against the court’s jurisdiction over the case. </p><p>Rimando&#x27;s lawyer Cornelio Samaniego III also moved for a joint ocular inspection of the Davao Occidental project to prove that it exists. Samaniego said his client was willing to shoulder all the expenses for the inspection should it be approved by the court. </p><p>“The project was there, it was erected, it was built. So, there’s no ghost project as alleged in the criminal information. Might as well have the ocular inspection para makita, kasi nagsasayang tayo ng oras dito kung nandoon naman talaga yong project,” Samaniego said. </p><p>Meanwhile, Leyco placed the DPWH officials on a 90-day suspension, except for one who claimed to be retired. </p><p>The court set a pre-trial hearing on Feb. 3, 10 a.m. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TIGHT SECURITY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Bureau of Jail Management of Penology in Lapu-Lapu City earlier said it was enforcing strict protocols for Discaya’s court appearance. </p><p>“The security for the transit is tight, only the security team are authorized to be on the convoy,” Jail Chief Inspector Ivy Manigos, warden of the Lapu-Lapu City Jail female dorm told ABS-CBN News in a message. </p><p>“The PDL is already secured in the vehicle upon egress,“ the official added. </p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F717869534480404%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Discaya and the other respondents were accused of conspiring for the release of P96.5 million to construct a revetment project in Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, which allegedly “was never implemented.”</p><p>Discaya was apprehended and detained in December. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/12/23/pnp-conducts-inspection-at-discaya-s-cell-rules-out-any-special-treatment-1404">PNP inspects Discaya&#x27;s cell, rules out any &#x27;special treatment&#x27;</a></div><p>Her case was transferred to the Lapulapu City RTC, based on a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/sc-designates-rtcs-as-special-courts-for-cases-on-infrastructure-projects-2009">Supreme Court guideline </a>that directs infrastructure corruption cases to be handled by the nearest anti-graft court. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/5/court-hears-discaya-others-motion-to-quash-arrest-warrant-1506">Lapulapu RTC hears Discaya, others&#x27; motion to quash arrest warrant</a></div>

<p>Detained contractor Sarah Discaya and her eight other co-accused pleaded not guilty Tuesday for graft and malversation charges in relation to the P96.5 million "ghost" flood control project in Davao Occidental.</p>

Detained contractor Sarah Discaya and her eight other co-accused pleaded not guilty Tuesday for graft and malversation charges in relation to the P96.5 million "ghost" flood control project in Davao Occidental.

Sarah Discaya pleads 'not guilty' to graft, malversation in 'ghost project' case

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Sarah Discaya pleads 'not guilty' to graft, malversation in 'ghost project' case

Annie Perez and Vilma Andales

Published Jan 13, 2026 09:53 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 13, 2026 01:39 PM PHT

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Sara Discaya

Cebu

DPWH

corruption

flood control

baha

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