Investigative journalism drives Discaya probe beyond Senate hearings

BILLIONS OF pesos have flowed into flood-control projects over the past decade to favor a small circle of contractors. Many projects exist only on paper, the actual construction proceeding as “ghost” activities. Some have collapsed within months after completion, showing flaws in construction.

As floods continue to batter communities in vulnerable locations, corruption has emerged at the core of crisis, facilitated by political connections, involving a wider circle of accountability reflected in the Discaya flood-control scandal. 

When the Senate opened hearings, spectacle threatened to take over the coverage of the story, hype centering on sharp exchange of accusations and denials, all captured in primetime news. But reporters have not been completely sidetracked. Some focused on the politically charged sessions in Congress, while others opted to investigate, gathering more information beyond the scope of the hearings. 

Tracking the process of project activities, investigative reporters sifted through documents, examining the procurement process and the data revealed in documents. Tracking the other side of the dubious enterprise, their reports focused on contractors, forcing into the open the process of transforming project funds into a resource for political patronage, as money changing hands could easily help build up funds for political campaigns. 

The result has been sustained, wide-ranging coverage that has fixed public attention on the scandal. From data-driven exposés to on-the-ground reports of failed dikes and vanished funds, the media have turned a budget story into a powerful case study of public resources diverted into private pockets, a classic example of corruption that victimizes the communities who suffer most from crises, including those caused by floods.

Stitching the story

On August 31, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) delved into nearly 9,855 projects worth PHP545 billion between 2017 and 2023, exposing how the Discaya couple’s firms cornered PHP31 billion in contracts. 

The report also revealed lawmakers investigating the scandal were themselves implicated, with at least 18 members of Congress tied to contractors or kickback schemes. PCIJ also showed other dubious aspects of project implementation, tracing the continued assignment of projects to construction firms that had already failed to complete their projects. The report focused on the assignment of projects to Metro Manila and Bulacan, which regularly receive disproportionate shares of flood-control allocations, leaving out vulnerable provinces in Mindanao from their share of government support. 

By breaking down the findings into five sharp themes, PCIJ translated a sprawling, billion-peso scandal into a highly accessible, well-documented exposé. Its use of names, assets, and visuals made the scale of corruption tangible, while its framing highlighted both systemic inequities and political conflicts of interest. 

ABS-CBN News, Inquirer.net, and Explained.PH broadened the reach of PCIJ reports, including these findings in their reports. 

Following the money, tracing the ties

Rappler pushed the story into more sensitive territory, publishing investigations that linked contractors to politicians. On August 11, 2025, Rappler linked several of the country’s top flood-control contractors—including Discaya-linked firms like St. Gerrard Construction and companies linked to the Co family—to influential political figures, most notably Senator Bong Go. 

On September 1, 2025, Rappler followed up with two urgent investigations. One mapped in detail how contractors such as CLTG Builders and those tied to the Discayas were connected to heavy-hitters like Charlie “Atong” Ang and Bong Go. The second traced Lawrence Lubiano, the top campaign donor of Senator Chiz Escudero, directly to billions worth of flood-control contracts—putting a sharp focus on conflicts of interest involving sitting legislators.

These reports triggered quick and widespread coverage across the media landscape. ABS-CBN News did well, integrating Rappler’s findings into its Senate hearing coverage, especially highlighting the Escudero–Lubiano connection. 

CMFR cheers Rappler for its most consistent and sustained investigative coverage of the Discaya flood-control scandal, producing not just in-depth reports but also explanatory videos and trackers to help the public follow the money. 

Humanizing the scandal

While Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) is not a straight news program, its newsmagazine-style investigations proved that the public is eager for accountability journalism when it is told through compelling human stories.

From August 27 until September 8, KMJS aired a three-part special report entitled “Katakot-takot na Kurakot” (terrifying corruption), the first episode on the alleged “klepto-pirosis” of billions in flood-control funds siphoned by “corrupt politicians.” KMJS added to the list of cases when it examined failed and unfinished projects, such as the PHP254 million Arayat Riverbank Project in Pampanga and the PHP47 million Lourdes River Dike in Tarlac. The reports exposed poor construction standards and questionable oversight. Giving attention to the case in Mindanao, it spotlighted the still-unfinished PHP659 million Mabuhay Underpass in General Santos City, raising red flags on cost overruns and contractor compliance. 

These reports stand out not only for their investigative detail—featuring structural engineers, local officials, and affected communities – but also for reaching out to the broad public to reflect the different ways flooding affects the public. Clips from KMJS spread quickly across Facebook, TikTok, and X, often repurposed by netizens who paired the audio with videos of flooded neighborhoods or politicians flaunting wealth amid public crisis. KMJS has made the issues presented by the data-driven, document-heavy work of PCIJ, Rappler, and other newsrooms more accessible to a broader audience, perhaps to engage more people to call for government action. 

Continuing the watchdog work

Senate hearings help call attention to different cases of wrongdoing, but often these end with resolutions, proposals for new legislation, with little follow-up on the real effects of such actions. The press must exert sustained coverage on these matters to keep the story alive — reminding the public how billions of taxpayers’ money can be so easily diverted from their purpose of securing the safety of communities vulnerable to floods. 

At this point, the story has moved beyond the hearings: officials are reviewing project documents, the President is ordering lifestyle checks on legislators flagged in reports, and new DPWH data tied to the 2026 budget promises another round of scrutiny. The challenge to media is to keep its focus on the significant discoveries and the actions called for – the “blacklisting” of offending contractors, the accountability of public officials who have been revealed as gaining from the deals between contractors and DPWH, and the pursuit of just consequences for proven offenses. 

These are clear gains from the exposure of these cases, serving as stepping stones toward accountability. The culprits from all sides have been identified, and leads to other actors are assured. Media should not consider the case closed, however. These current revelations are enough for media to explore further how to keep the critical need for flood control in the public mind. Sustained public vigilance should ensure that offending contractors and their official partners are held accountable. Should these be allowed to evade real consequences, then the opportunity to pursue justice will have been wasted, leaving the public to suffer the consequences of our perennial cycle of floods.