“Unti-unti nang nalalaman ng taumbayan.”
This was what Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said after at least two companies owned by the Discaya family were identified among the contractors with the highest number of flood control projects in the country.
On Monday, August 11, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. bared that, according to a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) report, 20% of the P545 billion flood control project budget has been awarded to only 15 contractors since July 2022.
“Sa 15 na contractor na ‘yan, lima sa kanila ay may kontrata sa buong Pilipinas,” the chief executive said in a press conference.
The DPWH has identified a total of 2,409 contractors for both local and national flood control projects.
“That, for me, was the one that stood out very much. Five of these contractors had projects in almost the entire country. So those are the ones that immediately pop out na, sa aking palagay, ay kailangan natin tingnan,” Marcos added.
Presidential auditing
The president presented a list of the contractors, which was also reshared by Sotto. Sotto raised concerns that some of these contractors are owned by the family of his former rival in the 2025 local elections.
“You may have noticed that Alpha & Omega is Top 2 and St. Timothy is Top 3; these companies, along with others, including ST. GERRARD, are all owned and controlled by the DISCAYAS,” the city chief said.
“Ngayon, unti-unti nang nalalaman ng taumbayan ang buong katotohanan. As the president told them during the SONA, ‘MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO!’” Sotto added.
He then explained how the “corruption” scheme involving contractors works, outlining steps that culminate in entering politics after mastering the earlier stages.
“Yung 1% ng nakaw, ibibigay sa tao bilang ‘tulong’ para magmukha silang mabait… buti na lang puro talo kandidato nung taga-Pasig, pati sa Partylist,” Sotto said, referencing defeated Pasig City mayoral bet Sarah Discaya with her team “Kaya This” and their disqualified congressional bet Ian Sia.
In a follow-up to his post, Sotto shared a list of additional firms linked to the Discaya family.
“[Please] take note, hindi pa po ito lahat. Ngayon ngayon lang may nagpadala sa’kin ng mga kontrata ng ELITE, na sa kanila rin pala,” he wrote in the comments section, sharing calling cards that prove Pacifico Discaya, husband of his rival Sarah, was linked to the firms.
Local rivalry
Sotto won in a landslide victory against Sarah in the Pasig mayoral race last May.
He previously raised concerns about Sarah’s reported use of a British passport for travel despite running for public office.
It was also revealed that she was a first-time voter during the 2025 midterm elections, which raised questions among some Filipinos.
“[First] time voter. Ibig sabihin lang eh wala siyang pakialam sa bayan!” an online user exclaimed before.
Last March, Sotto denied Sarah’s claim that the Pasig government chose a different venue for her team’s campaign kick-off event, and shared evidence to support his statement on his social media page.
The Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction drew attention after withdrawing earlier this year from a joint venture with the Commission on Elections to supply election systems for the midterm polls.
It is alleged to be the same company as St. Gerrard Construction, the controversial firm owned by Sarah. — with reports from Philstar.com/Jean Mangaluz
