Contractor Curlee Discaya will remain in detention at the Senate after the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) denied for lack of merit his petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

Branch 498 Judge Melvin Cydrick Bughao dismissed Discaya’s claim that the Senate committed grave abuse of discretion in ordering his detention.

Discaya was detained by the Senate on 18 September after being cited for contempt for allegedly lying during the ongoing investigation into a multi-billion-peso flood control scandal by the Blue Ribbon Committee.

His petition for habeas corpus, a legal remedy challenging the legality of detention, was filed before the Pasay court on 8 October.

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

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

Recently, the couple informed the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that they would no longer cooperate with its separate fact-finding probe, invoking their constitutional right against self-incrimination.