Lapu-lapu city: Contractor Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya and nine other individuals on Tuesday entered a not guilty plea to graft and malversation charges arising from an anomalous PHP96.5-million flood control project in Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. Discaya, along with the president of her St. Timothy Construction, Maria Roma Rimando, and eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were arraigned at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City.

According to Philippines News Agency, government investigators found that the flood control project was declared completed and fully paid in 2022, but non-existent. Other Discaya's co-accused are DPWH Davao Occidental district engineer Rodrigo Larete and assistant district engineer Michael Awa, along with several section chiefs, project engineers, and inspectors of the agency. The criminal complaints were initially filed before the Digos RTC but were later transferred to the Lapu-Lapu City RTC Branch 27.

The court has scheduled the next hearing on Jan. 27 for exhibits marking before the RTC's clerk of court. The pre-trial will start on Feb. 3. Rimando's counsel, Cornelio Samaniego, said they will file a petition for bail as well as move for a joint ocular inspection.