Arjo Atayde explains resurfaced photo with Sarah and Curlee Discaya
Quezon City 1st District Rep. Arjo Atayde has an explanation about a resurfaced photo of him and top government contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya amid the flood control mess.
According to The Freeman, the actor-turned-politician said it was a "quick hi, hello and picture taking" that happened around 2022 in his district office.
He noted that he met with them "just like any visitor," and that it wasn't a planned meeting.
"It was the first and last time I met with them,” Atayde said. “We never talked anything about any project. And I’ve never dealt with them.”
Atayde was among the officials whom the Discayas accused of corruption in flood control projects.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Hearing on Sept. 8, Curlee, in his sworn statement, claimed that several Department of Public Works and Highways officials and congressmen made them participate in anomalous biddings with kickbacks ranging from 10% to 25%. Otherwise, they'd supposedly face termination of contracts, right-of-way problems, and removal from the government's contractors list.
Atayde categorically denied Curlee's accusations in an Instagram Story entry, saying he has "never dealt with" the Discayas.
"Hindi po totoo ang mga akusasyon na ito," he said. "I have never used my position for personal gain, and I never will. I will avail of all remedies under the law to clear my name and hold accountable those who spread these falsehoods."
Atayde's wife, Maine Mendoza, also came to his defense and called out Curlee's "baseless allegations."
"Please refrain from throwing hate and personal attacks at him, including me and our family until facts come out," Mendoza said on X. "I am with my husband in this. Wala siyang ginagawang masama sa loob. He has been doing his best to serve the people of his district in Quezon City since the beginning. I sincerely hope and pray that the people who are TRULY responsible will be held accountable and that innocent individuals be spared from this mess. Napaka-unfair."
Flood control mess
The issue in the government's flood control projects began in July as the rains triggered massive flooding in the metro. At the time, Sen. Ping Lacson told dzBB that since 2011, about P1 trillion allocated for flood control projects may have been lost to corruption.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in his fourth State of the Nation Address, called out government officials involved in corruption in flood control projects.
Marcos ordered the DPWH to "immediately submit" to him the list of flood control projects from every region that were started and completed in the last three years. He said a project monitoring committee will evaluate this list to determine the failures, as well as the unfinished and ghost projects.
Days later, Marcos launched the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, where the public can track and report anomalous flood control projects and other possible corrupt practices.
According to the website, there are 9,855 flood control projects totalling P545.64 billion since July 2022. Of that number, 6,021 projects worth over P350 billion don't specify the exact type of flood control being built, while several others in different locations also have the same contract cost.
Marcos also said there are 15 contractors that exclusively bagged 20% of all flood control projects worth P100 billion in the last three years.
Among them were the Discayas, who were thrown into the spotlight when Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, whom Sarah unsuccessfully ran against in the midterm elections, posted about their controversial interviews with Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao.
In the interviews, the Discayas talked about their "inspiring" rags-to-riches life story, showcasing their dozens of luxury cars and other assets. Babao asked them what served as their "gateway" to have a better life, and Sarah answered, "Noong nag-DPWH kami."
After Sotto's posting, the couple's story unraveled and opened a can of worms. It led to flood control projects being the talk of the town, a Bureau of Customs chase, revocation of the Discaya companies' licenses, and congressional hearings.
