Gov’t to screen state witnesses

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda: Thorough screening. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Thursday said the government would thoroughly screen applicants to the Witness Protection Program as the justice department winds down its investigation into the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

“Certainly, if there will be people who will be coming out from the woodwork, it is something that the DOJ will certainly look into,” said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

Those currently under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman, after they were charged by the DOJ for plunder and other offenses, cannot just escape liability by seeking to become state witnesses, he said.

“All these hypothetical situations will be evaluated by the DOJ. The Department of Justice, as you know, is in charge of the ongoing investigation, so the DOJ will look into it,” he said.

Lacierda declined to reveal the identities of other witnesses who are willing to come out to shed light on the funneling of the pork barrel allotments of certain senators and representatives into bogus nongovernment organizations.—Michael Lim Ubac