High-profile contractor Sarah Discaya and eight engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Occidental are now behind bars at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail, with authorities firmly stating they will receive no special privileges. The group is implicated in a controversial P96.5 million "ghost" flood control project that was fully paid for but allegedly never constructed.
Arrest and Defiant Gesture
The accused were taken into custody following arrest warrants signed by Judge Nelson Leyco of RTC Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City on December 18, 2025. The case was transferred from Digos City to Lapu-Lapu in accordance with Supreme Court rules mandating that corruption cases involving infrastructure be handled by the nearest anti-graft court.
The individuals arrived in Cebu in batches on Friday, December 19, 2025. A controversial moment occurred when Discaya, while being transported in an NBI service vehicle, covered her face and made a "dirty finger" sign towards reporters. Before being taken to jail in the early hours of Saturday, December 20, she was brought to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital for a standard medical check-up.
"No Special Treatment" Order from Top Officials
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 Regional Director Rennan Augustus Oliva and Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Fredderick Vida have issued strict directives against granting any favors to the accused. Oliva, in a statement on Saturday, December 20, emphasized that the nine individuals are now at the Lapu-Lapu City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and will be treated like ordinary detainees.
"Whatever privilege is given to ordinary prisoners, the same will be given to them. No special treatment. I repeat, no special treatment," Oliva stated firmly. "Consider them as ordinary criminals."
Secretary Vida's order was equally stringent, mandating that the suspects be placed in standard dormitories without any special favors. Discaya and two other female co-accused will be housed in the female dormitory, while the six male suspects will be in the male dormitory.
The P96.5 Million "Ghost Project" Scandal
The controversy stems from a flood control project in Davao Occidental funded with P96.5 million from public funds. An investigation earlier this year revealed that the project was listed as "completed," but a physical inspection of the site found that no construction had actually taken place.
Due to these findings, the Office of the Ombudsman filed charges of malversation of public funds and graft against the accused. The case highlights a severe alleged misuse of government resources intended for public infrastructure.
Security and Next Steps
Authorities are taking no chances with security. PCol. Antonietto Canete of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) has deployed additional security personnel around the BJMP facility. The LCPO is also prepared to provide extra security during court hearings if necessary.
Director Oliva confirmed that the court will conduct seminal visits to the jail to ensure compliance with the "no special treatment" order. The arraignment for the accused is scheduled for 2026, setting the stage for a closely watched legal battle over one of the region's significant alleged corruption cases.
