If this report is true, then our moneyed brothers and sisters in the whole of the Philippines should prepare substantial amount of money for the possible auction of the 40 very luxurious vehicles owned by the Discaya couple.
We are referring to a report posted in the social media that after the controversy of their firms’ involvement in the highly anomalous and graft-ridden contract for the construction of multi-billion budgeted flood prevention projects, all existing Discaya contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been cancelled and their companies blacklisted.
Call it misfortune overtaking their humongous fortune brought about by their cornering several big-ticket government projects. And with the government’s cancellation of their existing contracts and blacklisting their contracting businesses in future biddings, the sources of their wealth will surely be gone.
If the acting mayor refuses to do what an “outsider” asks of him then the description of the city’s situation during long and heavy rains, will only reinforce the doubts of the congressman from Manila. It will also further cloud the minds of the city’s “doubting Thomases.”
Their next problem will be sustaining their high life the biggest expense of which is likely the overhead in maintaining the 40 luxury vehicles. Perhaps coming a far second in the allocation of the Discayas’ maintenance and operating expenses will possibly be the household.
Our suspicion is that the huge cash they accumulated in just a period of roughly 14 years when they started doing business with the government through the DPWH could fly even much faster. Meaning, the Discaya couple’s cash flow would be “cash flew” in less than 14 years.
And if they want to have some semblance of their current lifestyle after perhaps five to ten years from now, then the easiest way to sustain their status is to convert the luxurious vehicles into cold cash. However, they have to do it fast. Otherwise, the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will overtake them in converting these assets of theirs into money for the government (hopefully).
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In a recent statement Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte claimed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s investigation into the corruption-laden flood control projects all over the country is nothing but a “public relations stunt.”
Congressman Bienvenido Abante of Manila was quick to rebuff. He raised concerns over the billions of pesos that were allocated and released to fund flood prevention projects in Davao City. The Manila solon called the attention of the acting mayor on the continued flooding of low-lying areas in Davao City during heavy downpour.
Abante clearly insinuated that either the projects were not effectively implemented or could possibly be among those the President called “guni-guni.”
The Manila 6th district congressman challenged the acting Mayor to disclose to the public the total budget for flood prevention projects claimed to be through the initiative of his brother First District Congressman Polong Duterte.
If we were Acting Mayor Baste we will not hesitate to disclose the total amount that was allocated and released for such project in the district of his brother. He should also disclose where the locations of the project are and its present status.
And it would be best if the acting city chief executive will reveal the reasons why floods still continue to inundate certain areas in the city despite the implementation of the flood prevention projects.
We are certain that if Mayor Baste do as demanded this will zip the mouth of Abante, a person who is based in Manila and one who does not have the familiarity of the Davao City situation.
If the acting mayor refuses to do what an “outsider” asks of him then the description of the city’s situation during long and heavy rains, will only reinforce the doubts of the congressman from Manila. It will also further cloud the minds of the city’s “doubting Thomases.”
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