Contractor seeks release from Senate detention

Contractor Curlee Discaya's legal team has filed a petition for habeas corpus with the Pasay City Regional Trial Court, seeking his immediate release from Senate detention.

He has been detained at the Senate detention facility since September 18 after being cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for lying about the absence of his wife during a hearing on anomalous flood control projects.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III stated that Discaya will remain in Senate custody for contempt, emphasizing that the Senate's contempt powers are in place.

Sotto believes Discaya's detention is a "blessing in disguise" as it ensures his availability for investigations by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

The Office of the Solicitor General will represent the Senate in the habeas corpus petition proceedings at the Pasay Regional Trial Court.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has also filed P7.1-billion tax complaints against the Discayas, alleging they "never divested" from their companies.