Several officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 11, including contractor Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya, have begun a mandatory quarantine period inside the Lapu-Lapu City Jail. This move follows a Supreme Court order transferring their graft and malversation case to the nearest special Anti-Graft court in Lapu-Lapu City.
Quarantine Protocol for New Detainees
Chief Inspector Ivy Christine Manigos, warden of the facility's female dormitory, confirmed that Discaya and the eight other accused are currently held in a quarantine cell. The protocol mandates that all newly committed Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) undergo isolation for a period ranging from five days to two weeks. This standard procedure is designed to monitor health conditions before integrating new arrivals with the general prison population.
"We are assuring the public that all the PDLs are subjected to the same condition, same treatment as with other PDL's," stated Manigos on December 23, 2025. She emphasized that the accused are receiving their basic needs and that no special requests have been made by Discaya or her co-accused at this time. Their legal counsel and personal doctors, however, are permitted to visit them.
Case Transfer and Pending Motions
The group, which includes another new detainee identified as Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, arrived in Cebu on Friday, December 19, 2025. Their transfer to Lapu-Lapu City came after the Supreme Court designated the local court as the proper venue for their case. Prior to this, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reportedly declined to house the accused due to the limited capacity of its own detention cells.
Meanwhile, the defense has filed a motion seeking to have the case transferred to a court nearer to the accused's place of residence. This motion is still awaiting a judicial decision. The primary legal proceedings for the graft and malversation charges are scheduled to commence on January 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27.
Standard Treatment and Upcoming Proceedings
Authorities maintain that the accused officials are being treated under the same rules as all other detainees. Chief Inspector Manigos clarified that there have been no reports of the individuals experiencing any health issues since their commitment. The focus remains on completing the mandatory quarantine period as per the jail's standard operating procedure.
As the quarantine period progresses, the next significant date for the group is the January hearing. The court's resolution on the defense's motion for a venue transfer will also be a critical point to watch, potentially affecting the logistics and timeline of this high-profile case involving DPWH Region 11 personnel.
