MANILA, Philippines — Controversial contractor Cezarah Rowena Discaya said her family owns nine companies and one of them, Alpha and Omega, bid for 491 projects in 2022 and won 71.

She said one of these companies is owned by her eldest son while another is run by her cousin.

Discaya on Monday attended the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation of "ghost" or substandard flood control projects.

When asked by Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III when they earned their first billion, Discaya replied, "We have been in the construction business for 23 years so I would presume in 23 years we can earn that [amount]”.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada asked Discaya if they have a "point person" or someone from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who gives them a list of projects which they can bid.

Discaya says her family owns nine companies, This news data comes from:http://gtpn-tg-rjmp-xt.aichuwei.com

"Wala po ako knowledge (I don't have any knowledge). I don't know anyone [from the DPWH]," Discaya said.

To which Estrada said, "I don't believe you." Discaya later admitted that she knows the DPWH district engineers in Laguna and Bulacan.