Rep. Terry Ridon, head of the House committee on infrastructure, dismissed the affidavit of alleged whistleblower Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya as invalid during hearings yesterday, calling it a “scrap of paper” due to its notarization having expired in 2024.
The document accused several lawmakers—including Reps. Roman Romulo, Patrick Michael Vargas, Arjo Atayde, Nicanor Briones, Marcelino Teodoro, Florida Robes, and Benjamin Agarao Jr.—as well as officials from Quezon, Aklan, Mindoro, and Zamboanga, of involvement in flood control project anomalies. It also implicated former presidential assistant Terrence Calatrava and several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, such as Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, regional director Virgilio Eduarte, and Unified Project Management Office director Ramon Arriola III.
Although the affidavit mentioned Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Zaldy Co in connection with alleged bribe payments, Discaya clarified he never had direct transactions with either. “These are just words I hear from politicians…but as for the transaction with them, there is none,” he said. He also referenced his earlier sworn Senate statement, which mentioned the two but did not indicate direct involvement.
Some lawmakers questioned Discaya’s credibility. Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro accused him of “selective amnesia” for not naming officials allegedly seeking kickbacks during the Duterte administration, despite naming other lawmakers and DPWH officials in recent years. “The veracity of your affidavit is full of inconsistencies. It is full of false testimony,” she said.
