From ABS-CBN News

By Rhianna Ramos

On Sunday, December 7, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that tracker teams have been deployed nationwide to locate businesswoman Sarah Discaya and eight others accused of involvement in alleged ‘ghost’ flood control project in Davao Occidental.

This follows the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who said he instructed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and PNP to monitor the whereabouts of Discaya and the other respondents.

He explained that this would allow authorities to act immediately once arrest warrants are released.

Marcos, along with the PNP, added that malversation is a non-bailable offense, emphasizing that once the cases reach the courts, “the next step is the issuance of arrest warrants” for those named.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said police units have begun coordinating with regional offices and intelligence networks to determine the current whereabouts of the accused, emphasizing that Discaya and the others may attempt to evade authorities now that charges have been filed.

The case stems from a complaint by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found probable cause to file malversation and graft charges against Discaya.

Moreover, the construction firm St. Timothy Construction Corporation, its officers, and several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao Occidental, are also accused of declaring a P96.5-million flood-control project as completed even though field inspection found no actual construction on site.  

Officials said that documents submitted by the respondents — including certificates of completion, final billings, and inspection reports — were deemed falsified.

Physical inspection by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in September 2025 revealed no works had been done.

Authorities then urged the public to come forward with any information that could help locate the respondents.