On September 1, a Senate hearing pulled back the curtain on the controversial empire of businesswoman Sarah Discaya, whose name has become synonymous with government flood control projects.

For the first time since being subpoenaed, Discaya appeared before senators to answer questions about her nine construction companies. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada pressed her on whether these firms had ever competed against each other in government biddings. At first, Discaya denied it. But when Estrada threatened to summon records from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), she conceded.

“Yes po,” Discaya admitted, confirming that her firms had, on occasion, bid against one another. Estrada was blunt: “That is not legitimate bidding. Whoever wins, you are still the winner.” Senator Erwin Tulfo chimed in with a biting phrase: “Nagbibiding-bidingan.”

The list of companies is long — Alpha and Omega Construction, St. Timothy, St. Gerrard, Elite General Contractor, St. Matthew, Great Pacific Builders, YPR General Contractor, Amethyst Horizon, and Way Maker OPC. Alpha and Omega alone ranked second among 15 contractors that secured ₱100 billion in flood control projects over three years. Discaya admitted she served as chief operating officer there, while holding financial roles in other firms.

Beyond the contracts, her lifestyle also drew scrutiny. Once in a viral interview, she flaunted rows of luxury cars and spoke of wealth earned through DPWH projects. On Monday, she backtracked, claiming the interview was “spliced” and insisting she owns only 28 luxury vehicles, with the rest used for business operations.

The Senate probe has only begun to unravel how one woman and her web of companies became central players in a multibillion-peso public works bonanza — raising questions about fairness, legitimacy, and the integrity of government bidding.