MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan warned that embattled contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya cannot be placed under the government’s witness protection program if their sworn statement on the flood control project controversy is incomplete or altered.

The couple, whose construction firms secured billions of pesos in infrastructure contracts since 2016, named lawmakers and officials who allegedly demanded money from ghost or substandard projects, but only from 2022 onwards.

“2016 pa sila sa flood control projects pero mula lang 2022 ang mga pinangalanan,” Pangilinan said in a social media post. “Hindi maaring ‘edited o photoshopped’ ang inyong sworn statement. Hindi puede ang cover up.”

“Dapat ay the WHOLE truth. Hindi puede sa witness protection ang cover up. Ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw,” he added.

The statement came after the Discayas read their affidavit before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, where they declared readiness to serve as state witnesses in the ongoing probe.

The Senate panel is investigating alleged anomalies in flood control projects and other big-ticket contracts awarded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to several contractors, including the Discayas’ firms.