Sarah Discaya allowed P1M bail for alleged Davao Occ. ghost project

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Lapu-Lapu City has allowed controversial contractor Sarah Discaya to post a P1 million bail for the malversation of public funds charges filed against her for an alleged ghost flood-control project in Davao Occidental.

Aside from Discaya, the court also granted a P300,000 bail to Cesar Ubongen, finance officer of the Department of Public Works and Highways Davao Occidental (DPWH Davao Occidental).

READ: Curlee Discaya leaves Senate for Bulacan jail

The court, however, denied the motion for bail filed by the other 8 co-accused in the case for their involvement in the allegedly ghost flood-control project in Davao Occidental.

In the 15-page resolution issued Tuesday, July 7, 2026, RTC Branch 27 Judge Nelson Leyco allowed Discaya to post a P1 million bail for her case.

Leyco said no prosecution witness testified about Discaya’s involvement in the flood control project in Malita, Davao Occidental.

One of the witnesses for the prosecution was a former employee of St. Timothy Construction Corp., which is a firm owned by the Discaya couple, Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah.”

However, the witness has no personal knowledge of the project or the involvement of Discaya in the project.

Leyco said that based on the evidence presented by the prosecution, they failed to show the involvement of Discaya in falsifying the documents for the project.

READ: LOOK: Sara Discaya’s arrival in Cebu

The prosecution also failed to establish that the accused had conspired with her co-accused in the case.

Meanwhile, the court also granted the P300,000 bail for the finance officer of the DPWH Davao Occidental, Cesar Ubongen.

Leyco added that the evidence was strong against the other eight respondent, which prompted him to deny their motion to bail.

The court said that the rest of the accused had signed the false certifications and documents, even though no flood control projects were constructed in the area.

In the case of Ubongen, he signed the disbursement vouchers, which were the only basis for his involvement in the case.

However, this was not enough to strongly establish his connection in the case.

Lawyer Vincent Villa, legal counsel of the DPWH officials in Davao Occidental, said that they would seek other legal remedies for their clients.

READ: Sarah Discaya pleads not guilty to graft raps during Cebu arraignment

“We respect his decision, but understandably, our other clients are disappointed. We are yet to speak with them, but we will be exploring our remedies. So, first, we have to study the resolution properly, and of course, we can still file a motion for reconsideration. And if it’s denied, a possible petition for certiorari,” Villa said in an interview with GMA RTV Balitang Bisdak.

Leyco, however, clarified that the grant of bail did not mean that guilt beyond a reasonable doubt could no longer be established against Discaya and Obongen.

Aside from this, the denial of bail for the rest of the accused would not mean that they would eventually be convicted in the case.

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