“WE EXPOSED CORRUPTION—THEY TURNED US INTO CRIMINALS” — CURLEE DISCAYA

That is the explosive charge hurled by besieged contractor Pacifico Discaya, also known as “Curlee,” as he accuses the government of punishing whistleblowers while politicians allegedly linked to flood control kickbacks remain untouched.

According to Discaya and a source close to him, he and his family were deliberately sacrificed to shield powerful figures entrenched in what he describes as a long-running and deeply rooted system of corruption. “They made us the big fish,” Discaya said, adding that the much-publicized ₱180 billion worth of projects spans more than two decades, but is now being portrayed as if it all happened overnight.

Discaya flatly denied accusations of ghost projects, insisting their work involved real, on-the-ground infrastructure such as roads and schools that underwent government audits. He argued that if ghost projects existed, they were deliberately planted by others to divert public funds.

The contractor admitted he now regrets naming politicians who allegedly received kickbacks, saying that decision instantly turned them into targets. According to Discaya, once the system was exposed, the narrative shifted—and whistleblowers were suddenly branded as criminals.

He also lashed out at Senate inquiries, accusing them of selective scrutiny. Discaya said investigations appeared to focus on recent years, as if corruption only began in 2022, when in reality the system has operated across multiple administrations for years.

The most devastating blow, Discaya said, was the imprisonment of his wife, Sarah, over allegations tied to a supposed ghost project. He insists the project exists and says their legal team is ready to prove it in court. “If we hadn’t named the politicians, my wife wouldn’t be in jail,” he said.

Discaya further questioned why accountability stopped with them. Out of 15 contractors summoned, he claims only his group was left to take the fall. He said the fate of his wife sent a chilling message to others in the industry—stay silent or risk destruction.

According to Discaya, flood control projects are implemented in phases depending on available funding, a setup he claims has been exploited. He alleged that contractors who refused to pay SOP kickbacks were disqualified, while those who complied were allowed to proceed—even with substandard equipment.

He also claimed that officials within the Department of Public Works and Highways often followed political orders out of fear for their careers, abandoning contractors once controversies erupted.

Despite everything, Discaya maintains that exposing the system was necessary, even at enormous personal cost. His warning is blunt and unsettling: in a system ruled by fear and selective justice, speaking the truth doesn’t protect you—it destroys you.