MANILA—Nine construction companies owned by Sarah and Pacifico II Discaya allegedly competed against each other in public biddings for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contracts, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada revealed during the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation.

Estrada said Sarah eventually admitted that some of her companies participated in the same bidding process, despite initially denying any bid-rigging.

“Si Alpha and Omega (General Contractor and Development Corp.) at St. Gerrard (Construction and Development Corp.), hindi po sila sumasali sa isang bidding. Pero ‘yung ibang licenses, magkakasama sila minsan,” Sarah told Estrada after he threatened to obtain DPWH records to validate the alleged mock biddings.

In addition to Alpha and Omega General Contractor and Development Corp. and St. Timothy Construction Corp.—both among the top 15 contractors identified by President Marcos as securing the most flood control projects—Sarah acknowledged beneficial interests in seven other construction firms: St. Gerrard Construction and Development Corp., St. Matthew General Contractor and Development Corp., Elite General Contractor and Development Corp., Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corp., YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply Inc., Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc., and Way Maker One Person Corp.

According to the citizen portal www.sumbongsapangulo.ph, these nine Discaya-owned companies were awarded more than 400 government contracts amounting to around ₱30 billion from 2022 to the present.

“So minsan naglalaban-laban ‘yung siyam?” Estrada asked, to which Sarah replied in the affirmative.

“That is not a legitimate bidding. Dahil ‘yung siyam na ‘yon na naglalaban-laban sa isang kontrata, iisa lang ang may-ari. So kahit sino doon, kahit sinong manalo sa bidding na ‘yon, ikaw ang panalo. Dahil sa’yo lahat ‘yon,” Estrada said, stressing that such practices undermine transparency and accountability and deprive taxpayers of honest public service.

During the hearing, Sarah also admitted owning 28 luxury vehicles acquired through Frebel Enterprises and Autoart Luxury Cars, with a combined value approaching P200 million. The collection includes a Rolls Royce Cullinan (P42 million), Mercedes Benz Maybach (P22 million), Bentley Bentayga (P20 million), Mercedes Benz-AMG Wagon G63 (P20 million), two Cadillac Escalades (P11 million each), two GMC Yukon Denalis (P11 million each), Range Rover Autobiography (P16 million), Range Rover Defender (P7 million), Range Rover Evoque (P5 million), and Chevrolet Suburban (P3 million).