Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced Thursday the court's issuance of arrest warrants against contractor Cezara Rowena 'Sarah' Discaya and nine other individuals linked to the PHP96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental. Marcos said the accused, including several officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), are facing graft and malversation charges, which are non-bailable.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of malversation through falsification and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for their involvement in the ghost project. Other respondents include Ma. Roma Angeline Rimando, representatives of St. Timothy Construction Corp., and several DPWH personnel.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court stated that the two cases filed against Discaya and engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao Occidental were transferred to the regional trial court in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Discaya is under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation pending the issuance of an arrest warrant by courts where cases are filed against her.

Marcos mentioned that eight DPWH officials linked to the anomalous flood control project have expressed their willingness to surrender. The alleged ghost flood control project in Culaman, Jose Abad Santos was awarded to Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction Corporation on Jan. 13, 2022, and was declared 'completed' in the same year but was never started.