JV Ejercito asks DOJ: Be more careful in choosing state witnesses

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) Friday to be more meticulous in selecting individuals to become state witnesses and ensure that those who will be admitted to the Witness Protection Program (WPP) are not the most guilty in the flood control mess. 

This, as the DOJ announced last week that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and ex-DPWH Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara are already state witnesses in the government’s investigation of the flood control controversy. 

“I’m not a lawyer, but from what I know, those who are most guilty or ‘yung talagang kasama rin sa operasyon na ‘to (or those included in this operation) cannot be accepted as a state witness. Kaya nga sabi ko (that’s why I said), I’m hoping that they would be more meticulous in their selection of those that will be accepted as state witnesses,” Ejercito said in a Zoom interview with Senate reporters. 

“Kasi from what I know, ‘yung mga most guilty, hindi dapat kasama. And sa nakikita ko, sina Usec. Bernardo and the others sa DPWH, eh talagang sila ang kasama rito sa scam na ito on the part of the DPWH,” he added.

(Because from what I know, those who are most guilty should not be considered as state witnesses. And as far as I can see, Usec. Bernardo and the others from the DPWH are really involved in this scam, on the part of the DPWH.) 

GMA News Online reached out to the DOJ for a comment and will update this story once it responds. 

Aside from Bernardo and Alcantara, DPWH engineer Gerard Opulencia and contractor Sally Santos, the owner and manager of SYMS Construction Trading, are now also state witnesses.

Justice Acting Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that the four were admitted into the WPP in relation to the alleged anomalous flood management projects.

Asked if he has reservations regarding the DPWH personalities becoming state witnesses, Ejercito said, “I just asked kung ano ang main criteria of being accepted as a state witness. Kasi ang ano ko rito, eh baka maubos na ito kung lahat sila state witness.”

(I just asked what are the main criteria of being accepted as a state witness. Because my concern is that all those implicated will become state witnesses.) 

“Eh kung lahat na lang state witness, sino pa ang maiiwan ditong main players? From what I know, they are the major players of this scandal and scam, kaya dapat mas meticulous siguro ang selection for those who will be admitted as state witnesses,” he continued. 

(If they will all become state witnesses, who are the main players who will be left? From what I know, they are the major players of this scandal and scam, so maybe the selection for those who will be admitted as state witnesses should be more meticulous.) 

Under the Rules of Criminal Procedure, the court may direct one or more of the accused in a case to be discharged with their consent upon the motion of the prosecution, so they may be witnesses for the state.

The prosecution must present evidence and the sworn statement of each proposed state witness in support of the discharge.

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

— RSJ, GMA Integrated News