Manila, Jan. 13 -- Contractor Cezarah "Sarah" Discaya and nine other individuals on Tuesday entered a not guilty plea to graft and malversation charges arising from an anomalous PHP96.5-million flood control project in Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.

Discaya, along with the president of her St. Timothy Construction, Maria Roma Rimando, and eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were arraigned at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City.

Government investigators found that the flood control project was declared completed and fully paid in 2022, but non-existent.

Other Discaya's co-accused are DPWH Davao Occidental district engineer Rodrigo Larete and assistant district engineer Michael Awa...