The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee turned tense on Monday as contractor Sara Discaya admitted that she owns nine construction companies—all of which have joined bidding for projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
What shocked the senators even more? At times, these companies even competed against each other for the same project.
Discaya confirmed ownership of the following firms:
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Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
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St. Gerrard Construction and Development Corp.
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St. Timothy Construction Corp.
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St. Matthew General Contractor and Development Corp.
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Elite General Contractor and Development Corp.
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Amethyst Horizon Builders and General Contractor and Development Corp.
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YPR General Contractor and Construction Supply Inc.
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Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc.
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Way Maker One Person Corp.
At first, Discaya insisted that not all her companies joined the same bidding. But when pressed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, she admitted that there were indeed times when multiple firms under her name competed for the same contract.
Estrada didn’t mince words:
“That is not legitimate bidding. All nine companies belong to you. Whoever wins, you win. Correct?”
Discaya pushed back, claiming different people owned the companies, but records and her earlier statements contradicted her.
The questioning grew sharper as Senator Erwin Tulfo grilled Discaya on how both she and her husband still hold executive roles in some of the companies. She responded:
“Hindi ako COO… CFO po, pero hindi COO. I already divested from two companies.”
But Senator Risa Hontiveros presented calling cards linked to her husband, children, and relatives—strengthening suspicions that the companies remain under her family’s control.
Discaya then opened up about her past. She once worked abroad as a dental receptionist and orthodontic nurse before entering the construction industry in 2012. By 2016, her companies were already bidding for flood control projects.
The revelations didn’t end there. In the same hearing, Discaya also admitted to owning 28 luxury cars, further fueling questions about the wealth she has amassed through her construction empire.
