Sarah Discaya surrenders

Contractor Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday morning, Dec. 9, in anticipation of an arrest order that may be issued by the court against her and her co-accused.

- By JEFFREY DAMICOG

Lawyer Cornelio Samaniego III, the spokesperson of the Discayas, confirmed the surrender of Sarah Discaya.

"She has nothing to hide," Samaniego said in a text message when asked why she decided to surrender.

Samaniego noted that Sarah was accompanied by her lawyer when she went to the NBI headquarters in Pasay City.

Sarah turned herself in after President Marcos said that she could be arrested this week once an arrest warrant is issued against her.

The cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against Sarah before the Digos City regional trial court (RTC) involved the P96.5-million “ghost” infrastructure project in Davao Occidental in 2022.

The charges are the non-bailable malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents and graft.

The other accused in the cases were officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Occidental District Engineering Office led by District Engineer Rodrigo C. Larete, Assistant District Engineer Michael P. Awa, and several section chiefs, project engineers, and inspectors.

Aside from Sarah Discaya, the OMB also charged Ma. Roma Angelin Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corporation. There were reports that Rimando had earlier surrendered to the Pasig City police.