Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, confirmed on Christmas Day that contractor Curlee Discaya and former DPWH engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza—detained for contempt in the flood control probe—will remain in Senate custody through the holidays, following the denial of their furlough request.
Updating the earlier announcement, Senator Ping Lacson stated that the four individuals will stay in Senate detention during Christmas, amid the ongoing blue ribbon committee investigation into their roles in alleged irregularities in public infrastructure projects, including flood control.
The decision, initially recommended by Lacson as Senate President Pro Tempore for security reasons amid expected arrest warrants, presents challenges for their families but demonstrates the Senate's resolve in probing fund management issues.
'They will remain under Senate custody during the holidays,' Lacson said. As previously noted, they may attend mass at the Senate and receive family visits on the premises but cannot leave.