MANILA — The Supreme Court of the Philippines has dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by contractor Sarah Discaya challenging the finding of probable cause by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with a P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.

In a decision reached during an en banc session on April 8, the high court ruled that the petition had become “moot” after the Ombudsman proceeded to file the appropriate charges before a regional trial court, which later issued a warrant of arrest against Discaya.

“Although exceptions exist to safeguard constitutional rights, maintain orderly justice, or when charges are baseless or beyond authority, Discaya did not demonstrate any of these exceptions,” the SC Office of the Spokesperson said in a briefer released Friday.

“The SC emphasized that determining probable cause during preliminary investigation is the exclusive function of the public prosecutor. As a rule, courts do not interfere with this determination. The SC further noted that the Ombudsman’s findings were supported by substantial evidence,” it added.

Discaya is currently detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail.

Records show that in December 2025, the Ombudsman filed charges of malversation and corruption against Discaya and Maria Roma Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction, along with officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao Occidental, over the alleged ghost flood control project valued at P96.5 million.