Detained contractor Curlee Discaya requires surgery after sustaining a serious "shoulder injury" while in custody, his legal counsel said.

In an interview on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan on Friday, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III, lawyer for the Discaya family, revealed that Discaya underwent an MRI in March, which showed a torn tendon in his right shoulder measuring approximately 1.8 centimeters.

According to Samaniego, the injury was allegedly caused by Discaya lifting large, empty bottled water containers as part of his exercise routine while detained at the Senate Detention Facility.

“Kailangan po niyang mag-undergo ng operation para mapagdugtong daw po yung tendon sa right shoulder,” he said.

The lawyer added that a formal request has already been submitted to the Senate seeking permission for Discaya’s hospitalization and surgery. However, as of now, there has been no response from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee or Senate leadership.

“February pa itong medical letter namin sa Blue Ribbon at sa Senate President. February 25, noong March 5, nag-undergo siya ng MRI at nakita nga doon na naputol ang tendon niya sa right shoulder, 1.8 cm. Wala naputol,” Samaniego said.

He emphasized that the appeal is based on humanitarian grounds, warning that delaying the procedure could lead to long-term complications.

“Ang gusto naman namin, puro humanitarian reason lang naman. Medikal na po ito. Ibang usapin na po ito. Kasi sabi ng doktor niya, baka hindi mo na maitaas ang kamay mo, hindi mo na maibalik yung dati mong ginagawa. Pag tumagal 'yan kasi baka tubuan ng muscle,“ he said.

Samaniego also made a public appeal to Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo "Ping" Lacson to grant the request.

“Tito Sen, baka naman pwede nating mapagbigyan ang request ng ating kliyente for this hospitalization and operation Tito Sen, Sen. Ping sir. For humanitarian reason lang po. Baka pwede,” he said.

Discaya is currently under detention following a contempt order issued by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in connection with a non-bailable tax evasion case. He was arrested in December 2025 over alleged involvement in irregularities tied to flood control projects in Davao Occidental worth P96.5 million.