Manila, Feb. 23 -- A Pasay City court has upheld the Senate's authority to cite a resource person in contempt, dismissing the petition filed by contractor Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya questioning his detention.

In a copy of the decision sent to the media on Monday by the office of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 297 ruled that Discaya failed to prove grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Senate and sustained the validity of the contempt citation issued during a legislative inquiry.

Discaya was cited in contempt by the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon) after discrepancies emerged in the explanations given regarding the absence of...