SOJ Remulla: Discayas must return ill-gotten funds, if any, to be considered for immunity

Contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya need to return ill-gotten funds, if any, to the country's coffers before they can be considered as state witnesses in the investigation of the massive corruption in flood control projects, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla said.

The Discayas, before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday, disclosed the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who are allegedly involved in corruption of the flood control projects.

They said they were willing to cooperate with the investigation of the Senate committee.

“Parang first principle na gagamitin natin dito, kung meron silang nakukuhang perang hindi dapat, isauli nila sa republika. ‘Yun naman ang first condition natin lagi, diba? You don't walk off laughing at the system because you enrich yourself and got away with the crime,” the secretary said.

(That’s the first principle we will use here, if they got money that they shouldn’t, they should return it to the republic. That’s always our first condition. You don’t walk off laughing at the system because you enrich yourself and get away with the crime.)

“Hindi. Dito, you give it back to the state where it rightfully belongs before you can even be considered for immunity. ‘Yun talaga ang whistleblower act, eh. We have to work on those premises,” Remulla added. 

(No. Here, you give it back to the state where it rightfully belongs before you can even be considered for immunity. That is really the whistleblower act. We have to work on those premises.)

Remulla said the Department of Justice was forming a team in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the conduct of forensic accounting.

“Forfeiture. At saka para, kung magkakaroon sila ng offer to return, tama ba ‘yung figure o hindi. Kasi ‘yun nga, kinakailangan makita ‘yan, ‘yang money trail. Maging cooperative sila dapat when it comes to this,” he said.

(Forfeiture. And also so that if they will have an offer to return, whether the figure is correct or not can be determined. Because that’s it, the money trail needs to be seen. They should be cooperative when it comes to this.)

Remulla, however, denied that the Discayas were linked to the lawyer who approached him as a possible whistleblower.

The secretary previously said he was approached by a lawyer who represents one of the top 15 contractors that were awarded government-funded flood control projects.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the DOJ would also issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order against any congressman or public official upon the request of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Asked if this willingness will also extend to Speaker Martin Romualdez, Remulla said yes.

“We do not choose between rich and poor. We do not choose just to protect the rich and prosecute the poor. We do not do that. Kung sino ang may sala, tatamaan talaga sa batas. Hindi naman kami namimili. Hindi kami namimili dito,” he said. 

(We do not choose between rich and poor. We do not choose just to protect the rich and prosecute the poor. We do not do that. Whoever is guilty will really be held accountable by the law. We are not choosing. We are not choosing here.) –NB, GMA Integrated News