DOJ OKAYS CONTRACTOR, EX-DPWH OFFICIALS TO BECOME STATE WITNESSES

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has allowed a contractor and three former  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials to become state witnesses in cases involving alleged anomalous flood control projects.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said contractor Sally Santos, former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, ex-Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, and former DPWH National Capital Region director Gerard Opulencia are now under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).

However, Fadullon said former DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, who also applied for inclusion in the WPP, did not qualify as state witnesses.

DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida said the four state witnesses would be discharged from criminal liability in the specific cases they are assisting the government.

But Vida clarified that admission into the witness protection program does not automatically remove all criminal liability.

He said state witnesses are discharged from criminal liability only in cases where they have provided evidence that can be used by the prosecution.

The DOJ said a total of P316,381,500 had been returned by the four state witnesses. The breakdown of restitutions is as follows: Alcantara P181 million; Opulencia P80 million, Bernardo P35 million and Santos P20 million.