Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Senate could continue holding four persons cited in contempt for refusing to cooperate with its flood control corruption probe, until the 20th Congress adjourns in 2028, unless the courts order them arrested for prosecution or their release.
The Supreme Court (SC), Sotto said, has ruled that Congress can maintain custody of individuals it cites in contempt ‘while investigations remain alive’ or for as long as the inquiry remains active.
‘Based on the SC ruling, we will be forced to release them in June 2028,’ he told dzBB in Filipino, referring to the detention of contractor Curlee Discaya, and of former Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.
Sotto added that the Senate would comply immediately if a regular court orders their arrest or transfer to another detention facility.
‘Of course. That’s a different matter. Once a court orders their arrest, we have to comply,’ he said.
Hernandez was cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on Sept. 8 for supposedly lying during a hearing, while Alcantara, Mendoza and Discaya were cited in contempt and ordered detained on Sept. 18.
Sotto earlier said the three former district engineers had requested house arrest, while Discaya filed a habeas corpus petition that was denied by a regional trial court (RTC).
‘Discaya’s lawyer went to the RTC, which denied the habeas. Why would I allow their request for house arrest? They were begging for mercy. But did they ever give mercy to those that they hurt with what they did back then?’ Sotto said.
He said the Senate is expediting the passage of his bill creating an Independent People’s Commission to continue investigating corruption in infrastructure projects, with Senate justice committee chair Sen. Francis Pangilinan set to hold hearings for the bill this week.
Sotto said he might ask President Marcos to certify the bill as urgent.