Sarah Discaya, a detained contractor, pleaded “not guilty” to graft and malversation charges filed in connection with the alleged P96.5 million “ghost project” in Davao Occidental. The arraignment was held at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City, where both her co-accused denied the charges.
Discaya was joined by a construction firm executive and eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who also pleaded not guilty. Before the hearing, the defense requested an extension to explore other legal options, including moves against the court's jurisdiction. The court still allowed the case to proceed and set a pre-trial hearing in the coming weeks.
The defense also proposed a joint ocular inspection to prove the alleged existence of the project, while the court imposed a 90-day suspension on several DPWH officials. Amidst tight security, Discaya remains detained as the process progresses, which is expected to shed light on the issues surrounding one of the most hotly debated infrastructure and corruption cases in the country.
