The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Lapu-Lapu City has granted bail to high-profile contractor Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya in the criminal case involving an alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
Court Ruling on Bail
In a 15-page resolution dated July 7, 2026, RTC Branch 27 Presiding Judge Nelson Leyco ruled that the prosecution failed to establish strong evidence of Discaya's personal and active participation in the alleged conspiracy to commit malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents. The court also granted bail to co-accused Czar Ryan Ubungen, acting chief of the Finance Section of the DPWH Davao Occidental District Engineering Office.
“At this point in time, the pieces of evidence highlighted by the prosecution are not yet enough to prove Discaya’s instrumental participation in committing the criminal act of falsifying the documents, or in conspiring with the other accused. As such, this Court has to afford her the Constitutional right to post bail during the pendency of the main trial in this case,” the resolution stated.
Bail Amounts and Denials
The court set bail at P1 million for Discaya and P300,000 for Ubungen. However, bail was denied to seven DPWH officials and Timothy Construction President Roma Rimando, citing strong evidence of guilt against them.
The case stems from allegations that government officials and contractors falsely declared the flood control project completed in 2022 and released public funds despite claims that the structure did not exist at the approved project site. The criminal proceedings against all accused will continue before the RTC.
