A contractor couple who allegedly cornered billions of pesos of flood control projects will no longer cooperate with a government body which is investigating these will no longer cooperate with the agency.

''They (the Discayas) are now saying they will no longer appear before the commission and cooperate,'' said Independent Commission for Infrastructure spokesperson Brian Hosaka on Wednesday.

''They invoked their right against self-incrimination,'' he added.

''They explained that they were thinking that when they cooperate before the ICI , they will be getting a favorable recommendation from the commission as state witness,'' said Hosaka.

The move followed a TV interview where ICI member Rogelio Singson said the couple were no longer being considered as state witness. Hosaka said that was Singson's personal opinion.

Pacifico and Cezarah Rowena Discaya are currently seeking to be under the witness protection program of the Department of Justice. Pacifico is under Senate custody as the Upper Chamber's Blue Ribbon Committee is investigating the flood control scandal.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told StoryCon that the Discaya couple walked out of a meeting at the Department of Justice recently when they being evaluated as state witnesses.

Remulla said the couple were told that they could be made to undergo jail time.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, under acting chairman Senator Erwin Tulfo, is scheduling another hearing on the issue this month. DMS