Cebu court grants bail in one malversation case but second warrant keeps contractor detained

A regional trial court in Lapu-Lapu City granted bail of P1 million to government contractor Sarah Discaya in a malversation case connected to an alleged P96.5-million project in Davao Occidental. The court ruled on July 7 that prosecutors did not present strong evidence of her direct involvement.

No witness testified about her participation in the project, the resolution stated. Discaya is still subject to an arrest warrant issued by the Malolos City, Bulacan regional trial court in a separate malversation case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Background on the cases The Bulacan case involves a P53.9-million flood control project in Calumpit. Investigators found payments were released without an approved disbursement voucher and that work lacked documentation or a basis for computation. In the Davao Occidental case, the court found the project was a ghost project.

Evidence included an accomplishment statement showing 30.65 percent completion in four days, the absence of the structure at the reported site, and inconsistencies between plans. The same resolution granted P300,000 bail to a co-accused finance section chief whose signatures on vouchers were deemed insufficient to establish conspiracy.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed both malversation cases. The Bulacan warrant remains in effect, so the Lapu-Lapu City bail does not result in release.