Pasay court denies Curlee Discaya habeas corpus plea

A local court has denied the petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by contractor Curlee Discaya, ensuring he will remain in detention at the Senate for contempt.

Judge Melvin Cydrick Bughao of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 498 dismissed Discaya’s petition for lack of merit, rejecting the claim that the Senate committed grave abuse of discretion in ordering his detention.

To recall, Discaya was detained by the Senate on 18 September after the Blue Ribbon Committee cited him for contempt. The committee is conducting an ongoing investigation into a multi-billion-peso flood control scandal.

Discaya was held for allegedly lying during the legislative inquiry.

His petition, a legal challenge to the legality of his detention, was filed with the Pasay court on 8 October.

The court’s decision means Discaya will remain in the custody of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms until the Senate orders his release or the legislative investigation is officially terminated.

Discaya, along with his wife Sarah, is a key figure in the probe involving alleged corruption across multiple contractors and flood control projects nationwide.

The couple recently informed the Independent Commission for Infrastructure that they would no longer cooperate with its parallel fact-finding probe, citing their constitutional right against self-incrimination.