Marcoleta slams SOJ Remulla over Discayas state witness plea

Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Monday criticized Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for his remark that contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya may not be eligible to become state witnesses following their testimony on the anomalous flood control projects. 

Marcoleta, former chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, insisted that the Discayas should be placed under the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program because of the alleged threats to their lives. 

He said that prior to writing a recommendation letter for the signature of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, he talked with Remulla about the possibility of allowing the Discayas to become state witnesses. 

“Tahasan niyang sinabi sa’kin, ‘Pwede ‘yan,’ sabi niya sa’kin. Alam ninyo naman si Secretary Boying Remulla, matalik kong kaibigan ‘yan. Matagal kaming nagsama sa House of Representatives. So pinanghawakan ko ang kanyang sinabi sa’kin,” Marcoleta said at a press conference. 

(He told me that it was possible. You know Secretary Boying Remulla and I are friends. We spent a long time together in the House of Representatives. So I held on to what he told me.) 

“So ako’y nalulungkot kung bakit ginawa ‘yun, nagpahayag ng ganon ang atin SOJ at ‘yun naman ang ginawang basehan ng ating Senate President na hindi niya pwedeng pirmahan ang aking sulat. Alam ninyo sa tamang pagkakataon, I’m going to confront the Secretary of Justice kung bakit niya sinabi ‘yun,” he added. 

(So I was sad when he made that statement which later on became a basis for the Senate President not to sign my letter. You know at the right time, I'm going to confront the Secretary of Justice why he said that.) 

To recall, Remulla said Friday he believes that the Discayas are not forthcoming with their information on anomalous flood control projects, making him unsupportive of their bid to become state witnesses.

Curlee and Sarah Discaya previously disclosed at a hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which was then chaired by Marcoleta, the names of several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways who were allegedly involved in the anomalies in the flood control projects. 

When the Senate had a change of leadership last week, Marcoleta was replaced by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as chairman of the Blue Ribbon panel. 

Marcoleta stressed that it is the court that has to verify the veracity of the sworn statement of the Discayas, and not the committee or the senators.

“Bakit bumaliktad ang Secretary of Justice? Ngayon, sinasabi ni Senate President, nagmamadali daw ako na mabigyan sila ng witness protection program. ‘Yun ang sinasabi ng batas eh, ‘Pag hiningi nila with their consent, sapagkat nanganganib ang buhay nila, hindi ka magmamadali?” Marcoleta asked.  

(Why did the Secretary of Justice take back what he said to me? Now, the Senate President is saying that I’m in a hurry to put them under the witness protection program, but that's what the law says. They asked for such because their lives are in danger, why shouldn’t we hurry?) 

“Ilalagay ko ba sa kamay ko ang ang kaligtasan ng mag-asawa na ‘yun? Sila ay nagkusa na gumawa ng salaysay at kung malalagay ang kanilang buhay sa alanganin, sa peligro, sa kamatayan, hindi ko hihintayin na dumating 'yun. Gagawin ko ang katungkulan ko sa ilalim ng batas. Kung sinasabi nilang nagmamadali ako, maaaring nagmamadali ako sapagkat ‘yun ang kailangan para sila ay maliligtas,” he continued. 

(Would I put their safety at risk? They initiated to make a testimony and if their lives are in danger, I will not wait for that to come. I will do my duty under the law. If they say I am in a hurry, maybe I really am because that is what is needed for them to be saved.)

Sought for comment, Remulla said that he did not commit to making the Discayas state witnesses during their phone conversation.

“Actually, gusto ko nga tanungin sa kanya kung meron siyang recording nung usapan namin. Kasi we spoke on the phone for a few minutes, and it’s not supposed to mean that I already committed to make a state witness somebody I’ve never met in my life,” Remulla said in a briefing.

(Actually, I want to ask him if he has a recording of our conversation. Because we spoke on the phone for a few minutes, and it’s not supposed to mean that I already committed to make a state witness somebody I’ve never met in my life.)

“Syempre, ano ‘yan, this is serious business. So I hope he has a recording of what we talked about,” he added.

The Justice secretary said that a forensic accounting must first take place. He also said that authorities must first evaluate the readiness of the possible state witness as well as the veracity of his statements. 

“I cannot take it from somebody that porke't hiningi, ibibigay ko na. Hindi po ‘yun. Wala po sa power ko ‘yun. Hindi po ganoon ang WPP. It does not emanate from the request of the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee on saying, ‘pare gawin mo itong state witness ha.’ It cannot happen that way,” he said.

(I cannot take it that just because it was requested, I will grant it. That’s not how it works. It’s not within my power. That’s not how the WPP operates. It does not emanate from the request of the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee saying, ‘bro, make this person a state witness.’ It cannot happen that way.)

Remulla said that the Justice Department has to follow a process.

Meanwhile, Remulla said that requiring possible state witnesses to return any ill-gotten funds does not have to be in the law. 

“We have our own standards to set with regards to applications of people who want to be state witnesses. Definitely, there are many things we have to consider when we want the person to be a state witness,” he said. —with a report from Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News