manila, philippines — controversy has erupted after sarah discaya, who has been questioned regarding her involvement in multimillion-peso dealings with the department of public works and highways (dpwh), alleged that a widely circulated video interview of her was edited, or “spliced,” to mislead the public.
the disputed video
in the video, discaya was heard mentioning “dpwh” in connection with her group’s supposed acquisition of billions. the clip quickly spread online, raising eyebrows and fueling suspicions about possible irregularities.
but according to discaya, what people saw was not the full story. “when i said dpwh, because prior to that we were in local government… they spliced the video that was taken of me and just mentioned the dpwh,” she clarified during a senate inquiry.
sotto pushes back
senator tito sotto, who was presiding over the questioning, pressed her on the issue.
“so you’re saying that the television station and the persons interviewing you edited your answers?” sotto asked.
discaya responded firmly: “i think so, sir, kasi i did mention that i was doing local government as well as private po.”
mounting controversy
the allegation adds another layer to the already heated inquiry. if true, the editing of the interview could have distorted her statements, potentially misleading the public about the scale and nature of the transactions in question.
for critics, however, discaya’s defense raises more questions than answers. was the clip indeed edited unfairly, or is it a convenient attempt to downplay her earlier admissions?
public reaction
on social media, reactions have been mixed. some users expressed outrage, saying the alleged splicing was an example of media manipulation that could ruin reputations. others remained skeptical, insisting that discaya must still clarify the billions mentioned in connection with dpwh projects.
“kung totoo ngang inedit, that’s dangerous — but the bigger issue is, saan galing ang bilyones?” one commenter wrote.
“whether spliced or not, she admitted dpwh was involved. kailangan ng malinaw na sagot,” another added.
the bigger picture
the senate inquiry continues to probe how discaya’s group was able to access massive funds, with or without dpwh involvement. the claims of video editing, however, highlight a growing tension not only between officials and private contractors but also between public figures and media outlets tasked with documenting their statements.
what’s next?
senators are expected to review the original, unedited footage to determine the accuracy of discaya’s claims. if proven true, it could spark a debate on accountability in both government dealings and media ethics.
for now, one thing is certain: the controversy surrounding sarah discaya’s testimony is far from over.