NBI spokesperson Atty. Palmer Mallari said arrest warrants were served Thursday night against businesswoman Sarah Discaya over an alleged P96.5 million “ghost” flood control project in Davao Occidental.
Mallari said two warrants were issued against Discaya: one for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, with bail set at P90,000, and another for malversation, which is non-bailable.
Discaya underwent booking procedures and a medical check-up before being taken to the NBI Detention Facility in Muntinlupa.
Today, Discaya is attended a Department of Justice hearing on a complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. She will later be turned over to a court in Cebu City to face the charges. The DOJ hearing is expected to conclude by late afternoon, with a tentative 4 p.m. flight to Cebu, subject to the completion of proceedings.
Mallari said the immediate return of the warrant to the issuing court is required to allow the scheduling of the arraignment.
“Once the warrant is returned, the court will be scheduling the arraignment where the accused will be informed of the charges and enter her plea,” he said.
The court will also decide where Discaya will be detained while awaiting trial.
Mallari confirmed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had been informed of the arrest.
Discaya declined to issue any statement to the media.
Authorities also served the arrest warrant against Roma Rimando, president of St. Timothy Construction Corporation, at the Pasig City Police Station headquarters.
Earlier, Marcos said a local court issued warrants against Discaya and nine others over the allegedly spurious flood control project.
In a video, he said: “Ang mga akusado ay nahaharap sa kasong graft at malversation, ito pong mga kasong ito hindi po bailable ito, hindi pwedeng bayaran ang kanyang…para sila’y malalabas sa kulungan. Kabilang na po rito si Sarah Discaya na sa kasalukuyan ay nasa kustodiya ng NBI.”
Marcos added that eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways have expressed intent to surrender. “Ito po ay patuloy naming gagawin at simula lang po ito at patuloy naming iimbestigahan at kakasuhan lahat po ng may kinalaman sa mga iskandalo na nakikita natin sa mga flood control project,” he said.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed criminal information on December 5, 2025, at a regional trial court in Digos City, accusing respondents of conspiring to release P96.5 million for a revetment project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, which “was never implemented.”
Discaya surrendered to the NBI last week without an arrest warrant, saying the move was meant to ensure her safety.