THE P96.5-million “ghost” flood control project case in Davao Occidental was taken up Monday by the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court, which heard motions to quash arrest warrants filed by the accused.

Lawyer Michael David moved to nullify the warrant against government contractor Sarah Discaya, who was arrested and detained last month over the alleged non-existent flood control project.

Counsels for Department of Public Works and Highways District Engineer Rodrigo Larete and eight other DPWH Davao Region officials also sought the dismissal of the information and the quashing of arrest warrants.

The defense argued that RTC Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City has no jurisdiction, noting that the accused are not high-ranking officials and hold salary grades below 27. Larete, the highest-ranking respondent, has a salary grade of 25.

Larete’s lawyer, Joseph Randi Torregosa, said the case should be heard in Davao Occidental, where the alleged offense occurred.

The case was transferred from RTC Branch 20 in Malita, Davao Occidental, to Lapu-Lapu City under a Supreme Court guideline issued in November. Torregosa, however, said his client was not formally informed of the transfer.

A prosecutor from the Office of the Ombudsman Mindanao, lawyer Marie Josephine De Vera, also moved for the case to be returned to RTC Branch 20 in Malita.

The court is set to resolve the motions before January 13, 2026, the scheduled arraignment date. The accused joined the hearing via video conference from the Lapu-Lapu City jail.