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Recently, a photo of stacks of money at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan drove home the gravity of the corruption issue in the Philippines.
At the center of the nation's scrutiny is married couple Pacifico "Curlee" II and Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya.
It can be recalled that during the 2025 midterm elections, Sarah Discaya went against incumbent Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto for the post. At a hearing last Tuesday, Sotto emphasized the inconsistencies in the statements of the Discaya couple.
In an interview on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Sotto said that the Discayas only having a project income of two to three percent is unbelievable, claiming that they earn 10 to 15 percent.
"Du'n mo nga makikita talagang hindi mapagkakatiwalaan kasi paiba-iba ng kuwento. At du'n ako medyo natatakot ngayon, na baka kasama sa game plan na lituhin lang tayo," Sotto said.
["That's when you really see that they can't be trusted. Their story keeps changing. And that's what worries me now, that it might just be part of their game plan to confuse us."]
"Baka mamaya, tanggapin natin lahat ng sinasabi nila. 'Yun pala ang endgame, after a few months, walang ma-produce na mga ebidensya, wala na mangyayari sa mga kaso. 'Yun 'yung kinatatakutan ko ngayon."
["We might end up accepting everything they say. It turns out that's the endgame—after a few months, no evidence will be produced and the cases won't go anywhere. That's what I'm afraid of now."]
Sotto added that he is unhappy about everything that has been happening in the country, but is nonetheless grateful that the issues are being talked about and that the public cares.
He is also "fairly confident" these issues will continue being talked about.
"I've seen even our national government agencies really pushing for justice. Active pati from Secretary Vince, DPWH. I've seen how they're working now to bring accountability para managot ang mga kailangang managot," Sotto said.
["I've seen our national government agencies really pushing for justice. Even Secretary Vince and the DPWH are active. I've seen how they're working now to bring accountability to those who need to be held responsible."]
"But with that said, I still think that we should be careful. Ngayon medyo nag-a-activate ulit ng trolls ng ibang groups. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing pero may nakikita ako na may konting rise," he added.
["I still think that we should be careful. Now, some groups are reactivating their trolls. I don't know where they're coming from, but I've noticed a slight rise."]
Political conspiracy
It's not just the Discayas who need to be talked about, Sotto said, but also the DPWH, other contractors, and politicians involved.
"May mga red flags kaming nakikita. Even with financial transactions taxes. Fino-forward namin sa correct national government agencies," he said.
["We saw some red flags, with financial transaction taxes. We are forwarding them to the proper national government agencies."]
"Ang pinag-uusapan natin dito hindi lang 15 contractors. Kundi it's a conspiracy na may politiko, may DPWH, may contractor."
["What we're talking about here isn't just 15 contractors. Instead, it's a conspiracy involving a politician, the DPWH, and a contractor."]
Among the list of the congressmen who allegedly received a kickback from the DPWH flood projects, according to the Discayas, is Lone District of Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo, an ally of Sotto. He said he is ready to show the public his Sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth or SALN and to sign a waiver for bank secrecy.
Asked for a reaction regarding Romulo, Sotto said that no matter what he'd say, people would not believe him because of their friendship.
"Pero ang sinasabi ko lang, tingnan n'yo nang maigi 'yung konteksto ng sinasabi ng Discaya na 'yan. Kasi kilala na natin, nakita natin nu'ng campaign period hanggang ngayon, kung paano sila magsinungaling," Sotto said.
["Look closely at the context of what Discaya is saying. Because we already know—we've seen since the campaign period until now—how they lie."]
"They have hundreds, if not thousands, of contracts in government. DPWH, mayroon din sila sa mga LGU. Sabi nila sa Senate hearing, to quote, 'Wala kaming magawa.' Puwersado raw sila magbigay ng SOP. But out of thousands of projects, they named 26 individuals. So doon pa lang, makikita mo nang may mali d'yan," he added.
["They have hundreds, if not thousands, of government contracts—DPWH and also with LGUs. At the Senate hearing, they said, and I quote, 'There's nothing we can do.' They claimed they were forced to give SOP. But out of thousands of projects, they named only 26 individuals. So right there, you can see something is wrong."]
Do these issues affect him?
"Minsan napanghihinaan ng loob," Sotto admitted.
["Sometimes, I feel disheartened."]
"Pero at this point, ang pag-iisip ko na lang ay gagawin ko kung anong kaya kong gawin. Hindi ko kaya baguhin ang buong sistema, pero kung ano 'yung kapangyarihan na mayroon ako sa LGU bilang mayor, gamitin ko para sa tama," he added. "Gamitin ko para labanan 'yung mga ganitong klaseng kalakaran. I'd like to think that we're making even a small difference for good. Importante lang naman huwag tayo paatras eh, pasulong lang nang pasulong."
["But at this point, my thinking is that I will just do what I can. I can't change the entire system, but whatever power I have in the LGU as mayor, I will use for good. I'll use it to fight against this kind of practice. I'd like to think that we're making even a small difference for the better. The important thing is not to move backward, but to keep moving forward."]
Pattern of fraud
Sotto sees a clear pattern of fraud with the nine companies of the Discayas, but said this reflects the reality for other contractors.
He also plainly said that Pasig is not completely free from corruption.
"No. Hindi ko kayang sabihin na zero. Sa sarili ko, kaya kong sabihin na zero. In reality, hindi mo naman sabihin na zero for any office or agency," he said.
["I can't say there's zero corruption in Pasig. For myself, I can say it's zero. But in reality, you can't say it's zero for any office or agency."]
"Pero kaya kong sabihin na 99-percent, natanggal namin. Of course we're always aiming for 100-percent success. Hanggang may konti pa d'yan, tuloy-tuloy ang laban," he added.
["But I can say that we've removed 99 percent of it. Of course, we're always aiming for 100 percent success. As long as there's still a little left, the fight will continue."]
Sotto calls on everybody to view corruption as a systemic problem.
"At hindi lang siya systemic na nasa gobyerno o hindi, nasa kultura na rin natin siya," he said.
["And it's not just a systemic issue in government; it's also in our culture."]
"Magmamaneho ka, pinara ka ng traffic enforcer, una mo maiisip, mag-abot na lang. Same person, same driver, same moral compass. Dalhin mo sa Singapore, maglalakas loob siya na mag-abot sa traffic enforcer? Ni hindi niya maiisip 'yun," he added. "Kung gusto natin magbago bayan natin, kung gusto natin mag-level up tayo bilang isang bansa, kailangan kahit maliit, dapat ituring natin siya na nakakagalit, nakakadiri. 'Yan lang talaga ang solusyon."
["You're driving, a traffic enforcer pulls you over, the first thing you'll think is to just offer a bribe. The same person, the same driver, the same moral compass—take him to Singapore, would he have the guts to offer a bribe to a traffic enforcer? He wouldn't even think of it. If we want our country to change, if we want to level up as a nation, even the small things should be treated as enraging and disgusting. That's the only solution."]
Despite this bleak problem, Sotto believes the Philippines will be corruption-free one day.
"It will not be easy. It will not be quick. But if more of us rather than less of us continue to push the system, push the boundaries of what can be done, of what is normal, to denormalize corruption, normalize practices of transparency for instance, makakarating at makakarating tayo dyan."
["It will not be easy. It will not be quick. But if more of us rather than less of us continue to push the system, push the boundaries of what can be done, of what is normal—to denormalize corruption, for instance, and normalize practices of transparency—we will get there eventually."] —JCB, GMA Integrated News
