The continued detention of contractor Curlee Discaya at the Philippine Senate’s detention facility has become “record-breaking” in length, his legal counsel said, raising questions over the duration of his confinement under a contempt order.

During an interview on Dos Por Dos on Friday, Discaya's legal counsel, Atty. Cornelio Samaniego III, said Discaya is now the longest-held detainee at the Senate facility.

“Sa pagsasaliksik ko…siya yung pinakamatagal talaga [sa Senate Detention Facility]. Record-breaking na siya,” Samaniego said.

Discaya has been under Senate custody since September 18, 2025, after he was cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. The citation stemmed from inconsistencies between his statements and those of his wife, Sarah Discaya, regarding her absence from a Senate hearing.

According to records, Sarah Discaya submitted a letter saying she missed the hearing due to a scheduled employee meeting. However, her husband had earlier told lawmakers she was absent because of a medical condition, prompting the panel to question the discrepancy.

Samaniego said his client remains detained because the contempt order has yet to be lifted.

“Na-contempt kasi siya. Until now, nasa under-contempt pa rin siya. Kaya nga hindi namin maintindihan kung ano yung reason pa dahil mahaba na talaga yung pagkakakulong niya sa Senate Detention Facility,” he said.

“Ang reason ng pagkakakontempt niya ay yung hindi lang tugma yung sagot doon sa excuse letter ng asawa niya,” he added.

Meanwhile, a ruling by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 297 upheld the Senate’s authority to detain Discaya.

In a decision released Monday, the court denied Discaya’s petition for certiorari, saying he failed to prove grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Senate. The ruling also emphasized that due process was observed, noting that Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson had allowed Discaya to explain why he should not be cited in contempt.

Despite this, Samaniego argued that the length of detention is no longer proportionate.

“Hindi ko po masabi kung ano ang wisdom ng Blue Ribbon Committee. Sa tingin ko hindi na po mensurate yung pagkakakulong niya,” he said.

The lawyer also pointed to delays in the committee’s proceedings, saying the lack of a final report has contributed to the indefinite nature of Discaya’s detention.

He said it would be better to also summon fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who was arrested in the Czech Republic on Thursday, April 16, as this could help conclude the inquiry.

“Mas maigi nga ‘yun [na ipatawag si Zaldy Co] para matapos na yung investigation na yan kasi walang—indefinite ang schedule. Kaya ganyan naman,“ he said.

“Hindi makapag-submit ang report ng Blue Ribbon. Kaya ganyan siya. Kaya hanggang hindi siya pinapakawalan, nandiyan siya talaga,” Samaniego said.