The pre-trial hearing of controversial contractor Sarah Discaya and co-accused in connection with graft and malversation of public funds cases has been delayed after the court announced that the pre-marking of the prosecution's evidentiary documents has not yet been completed.
According to the Regional Trial Court of Lapu-Lapu City, the pre-trial conference was rescheduled for February 27, 2026, at 2 p.m., after hearing both sides. The defense pointed out that thousands of pages of documents need to be reviewed before the trial can proceed.
The prosecution shared that approximately 4,000 pages of documents need to be pre-marked, and only half of them have been completed so far. The court allowed both sides to continue the process within five set dates until February 13, 2026.
The court also allowed attendance at hearings via video conferencing for accused persons in custody, in accordance with a new policy that will allow for more efficient progress of cases. However, it was clarified that physical presence is still required when there are specific court orders.
Meanwhile, the court denied the motion for joint ocular inspection of the alleged ghost flood control project, and set the hearing on motions for bail after the pre-trial. The case continues to be watched as an important judicial news that has a major impact on the issue of accountability of public funds.
