MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that courts have issued arrest warrants against contractor Cezara Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and nine other individuals linked to a PHP96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.

Marcos said the accused, including several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), are facing graft and malversation charges, which are non-bailable.

“Ito pong mga kasong ito hindi po bailable ito, hindi pwedeng bayaran ang kanyang…para sila’y malalabas sa kulungan. Kabilang na po rito si Sarah Discaya,” the President said in a video message.

“Titiyakin po natin na hindi lamang sila ay makakasuhan, kundi maibalik ang pera, na ang binayad ng ating kababayan ay ibalik sa kaban ng ating bansa,” he added.

The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of malversation through falsification and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for the respondents’ alleged involvement in the ghost project.

Also named as respondents were Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, representatives of St. Timothy Construction Corp., and several DPWH personnel.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court said the two cases filed against Discaya and DPWH engineers in Davao Occidental were transferred to the Regional Trial Court in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

Discaya is currently under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation pending the issuance of arrest warrants by the courts where the cases were filed.

Marcos also said eight DPWH officials linked to the anomalous flood control project have expressed their willingness to surrender.

“Ito po ay patuloy naming gagawin at simula lang po ito at patuloy naming iimbestigahan at kakasuhan lahat po ng may kinalaman sa mga iskandalo na nakikita natin sa mga flood control project,” he said.

The alleged ghost flood control project in Culaman, Jose Abad Santos was awarded to Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction Corporation on Jan. 13, 2022, declared completed within the same year, but was never started.