Akbayan Partylist Representative Chel Diokno on Sunday called for a comprehensive audit of projects handled by government contractors now under the Witness Protection Program (WPP), stressing the need to determine the full extent of public funds lost in alleged anomalous flood control projects.
Diokno issued the statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that four individuals were admitted into the WPP: former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former Public Works Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, Public Works Engineer Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading.
“Dapat nagkaroon ng malalim na audit sa lahat ng mga hinawakan na mga kontrata at proyekto ng mga pumasok sa witness protection program,” Diokno said, adding, “Dapat nung una pa lamang nakuha na sa kanila ‘yung mga electronic device kasi dun natin makikita yung mga konchaba nila, and yung proyektong minagic nila.”
Alcantara, Opulencia, and Santos have already returned millions of pesos in stolen funds, but Diokno insisted that forfeiture proceedings must ensure all misused money is recovered.
He emphasized that witnesses must fully disclose what they know: “Kapag sinabi full cooperation, dapat lahat ng alam nila sa mga flood control projects at iba pag infra project dapat ilalabas nila at ibubulgar nila, itetstigo nila. They cannot spare anybody. Basta nasa personal knowledge nila kung sinong involved then kelangan asabihn nila ng buo sa DOJ, later sa korte.”
Diokno underscored that accountability and transparency are essential to uncover the full scope of corruption and to prevent similar abuses in future infrastructure projects.