Approval of Congress’ own witness protection program seen

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate is expected to approve the proposed measures that would allow Congress to establish its own witness protection program and set up a reward system for whistleblowers against corrupt government officials.

Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said the two bills were already set for approval on third reading at the Senate.

He stressed that the proposals would help curb corruption in government by encouraging witnesses to come out and testify against unscrupulous public officials.

Under the proposed measure, the Senate and the House of Representatives can promulgate their own rules to implement their respective Witness Protection, Security and Benefits Program for qualified witnesses.

“These two measures will further deter the commission of graft and corruption in government and will reward those who risk everything to testify against thieves plying their trade in the corridors of power,” said Escudero, who co-authored both bills.

The proposed Whistleblowers Act sets up a reward system for those who will step forward and expose graft and corruption in government.

The highest reward is P5 million if the testimony of the whistleblower involves a public official with a salary grade of 33. The reward ranges from P50,000 to P5 million, depending on the salary grade of the official involved, which is from salary grade 1 to 33.

“All forms of graft and corruption punishable under our laws are included in this measure,” Escudero said. “Aside from the reward, the whistleblower will be entitled to other benefits such as protection and security. They can move forward and begin anew.”

Escudero said under the bill, the Office of the Ombudsman shall institute a Whistleblower’s Program in order to carry out the intent of the law.

The current witness protection law, on the other hand, empowers only the Department of Justice to undertake the program, he said.

The proposed amendment seeks to allow both houses of Congress to establish their own program solely for witnesses or resource persons in congressional investigations in aid of legislation, Escudero explained.

“The cases of Rodolfo ‘Jun’ Lozada, Sandra Cam, Michaelangelo Zuce and many others who have come forward and disclosed what they know of alleged wrongdoing in the government show the limitations of the current law,” Escudero said.

Lozada testified on the alleged bribery and overpricing of the government’s national broadband network contract with China’s ZTE Corp.; Zuce testified on the alleged fraud in the 2004 elections, while Cam exposed government officials taking bribes from operators of jueteng. –Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star)