The Pasay City RTC (Branch 297) rejected the Certiorari petition of detained contractor Pacifico F. Discaya II, sustaining the Senate of the Philippines’ authority and the legitimacy of the contempt citation.

In its decision released Monday, the court ruled that Discaya failed to show any grave abuse of discretion by the Senate. The judgment emphasized that the petitioner had been accorded due process.

“Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee, was explicitly mindful of due process,” the ruling noted, pointing out that Discaya was given an opportunity to explain why he should not be cited for contempt.

The decision also addressed inconsistencies in the Discayas’ statements. During the Blue Ribbon Committee proceedings, Discaya had testified regarding his wife’s absence.

However, the court noted that Mrs. Discaya’s written explanation—already read into the record—cited a scheduled employee meeting as the reason for her non-attendance, contradicting Discaya’s claim that her absence was due to a medical condition.

The ruling affirmed that the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, commonly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, acted within its constitutional and legal mandate in conducting the legislative inquiry and exercising its power to cite resource persons in contempt when justified.

Named respondents in the petition included the Senate of the Philippines, the Blue Ribbon Committee, its chairperson Senator Lacson, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

The Senate, through its statement, reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting judicial review as a safeguard to maintain the balance of powers among the three branches of government.