Manila: Pacifico 'Curlee' Discaya, the owner of construction firms under investigation for alleged ghost flood control projects, has categorically stated that he never engaged in any direct transactions with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Discaya made this assertion during a House Infra-Comm hearing, where he appeared under oath to clarify his position.

According to Philippines News Agency, Discaya emphasized that the names of Speaker Romualdez and Ako-Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, the former House appropriations panel chair, had been mentioned in his testimony but were not based on any direct dealings. He suggested that their names may have been used by other politicians without their knowledge. "Baka po nagagamit lang po ng mga pulitiko ang kaniyang pangalan (His name may have been used by politicians)," he remarked during the hearing.

Discaya further clarified that he had no evidence or knowledge of funds being directed to Romualdez or Co and insisted that his previous mentions of their names were not indicative of any transactions. He stated, "Gusto ko lang pong linawin sa kanila na wala po akong direktang transaction. Hindi po ako nagkaroon ng anumang klaseng transaction sa kanila (I want just to clarify to them that I did not have direct transactions with them. I did not have any kind of transaction with them)."

The ongoing scrutiny has prompted Discaya to publicly distance both Romualdez and Co from his company's projects. He reiterated that the repeated mention of their names necessitated his public clarification. "Kaya sa akin mas mabuti na iparating ko kay Speaker at Zaldy Co na wala po akong direct transaction sa inyo (It is better for me to tell the Speaker and Zaldy Co that I did not have direct transactions with you)," Discaya added.

During the hearing, Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima asked Discaya to confirm if his recent clarifications were related to his earlier sworn statement filed at the Senate. Discaya confirmed that his clarifications were meant to address his Senate statement, reiterating that while he stood by what was written, it was not evidence of any direct dealings with Romualdez or Co.