Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito is pushing for a more stringent selection process for state witnesses under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).
“I’m hoping that they would be more meticulous in their selection of those that will be accepted as state witnesses,” Ejercito said in an online media interview on Friday, Jan. 23.
“Kasi from what I know yung mga most guilty hindi dapat kasama and sa nakikita ko, sina Usec. Bernardo and the others sa DPWH e talagang sila ang kasama rito sa scam na ito on the part of the DPWH,” he added.
[Translation: Because from what I know, those who are most guilty should not be included, and based on what I can see, Undersecretary Bernardo and the others from the DPWH were truly involved in this scam on the part of the DPWH.]
NewsWatch Plus has reached out to the DOJ for comment.
Four state witnesses have recently been admitted to the WPP in relation to the flood control corruption scandal, including three former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a contractor.
They are former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former DPWH Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara, former DPWH regional director for Metro Manila Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos of SYMS Construction.
Asked if he has any reservations about the said state witnesses, Ejercito said he simply wants clarification on the criteria used in vetting implicated individuals.
In exchange for their cooperation, state witnesses are exempted from criminal liability in cases where they are assisting the government.
