As arguments heat up during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Senator Kiko Pangilinan stressed that there is no law that prevents those involved in the flood control corruption scandal from giving back stolen funds and luxury vehicles, among others.
This comes as debates on the restitution of the stolen funds and vehicles rose during the hearing on the flood control corruption scandal.
“Si Ginoong Hernandez, halimbawa, sinurrender na sa ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) yung ilang vehicles at sinasabi niya willing pa sya i-surrender ‘yung Lamborghini. That’s his voluntary act,” Pangilinan said.
“If Engineer Alcantara will do the same voluntarily as a sign of goodwill, there is no law that prevents him from doing that,” the veteran legislator added.
“While no law requires state witnesses to surrender stolen funds and goods, the government can be broader in its implementation of programs and laws.”
The seasoned lawmaker explained that while no law requires state witnesses to surrender stolen funds and goods, the government can be “broader” in its implementation of programs and laws especially if the offer to surrender is voluntary.
“’Yung pagbabalik is a sign of cooperation, which the courts will eventually consider when it sentences or if it provides the exemption and the immunity.”
“In fact, ‘yung pagbabalik is a sign of cooperation, which the courts will eventually consider when it sentences or if it provides the exemption and the immunity, hindi po ba?” the senator asked Justice Secretary Boying Remulla.
Pangilinan said that this should be a “guide” for those applying to be state witnesses in the current corruption issue that their cooperation is a “sign” to the courts to possibly grant them exclusion, exemption, or immunity.
“And at the same time, kapag may sintensiya, pati ‘yun mapapababa pa, among others,” he added.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently studying the affidavits of contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya and Engrs. Brice Hernandez and Henry Alcantara of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the possibility of putting them under the government’s Witness Protection Program as state witnesses.
