Bersamin mum whether Discayas can be state witnesses

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Wednesday said he is not one to say whether contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, who earlier confessed to paying off public officials to secure government contracts for their many companies, are qualified to become state witnesses. 

“I cannot be a judge of that,” Bersamin, a former Supreme Court chief justice, simply told Senate reporters when asked of the fate of the Discaya couple. 

The Discayas on Monday disclosed the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHW) who are allegedly involved in corruption in the country’s flood control projects.

The Discaya couple said this during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, as they expressed willingness to be state witnesses following their revelation. They also asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the committee for help for the protection and security for their family. 

Speaking to reporters in Cambodia, Marcos said the allegations made by the Discayas will be investigated by the independent commission. 

Asked about the protection being sought by the Discayas, the President said there is a system for granting protection over someone who can be considered as a witness. 

''If they qualify as witnesses who will testify, then the state is, of course, willing to provide them with protection,'' Marcos said.

Lawyer and House Infrastructure Committee chairperson Terry Ridon had said that the Discayas are not qualified to be state witnesses, explaining that the alleged payoffs would not happen if they were not involved in the scheme. 

Under the law, a state witness must meet the following qualifications:

• there must be an absolute necessity for the testimony
• the testimony must be corroborated
• there is no other source of direct evidence
• applicant has no previous conviction
• the accused seeking to be a state witness must appear as not the most guilty.

EXPLAINER: What does it take to be a state witness?

—AOL, GMA Integrated News