The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that it is preparing to formally assume responsibility for the protection of witnesses involved in the flood control corruption scandal, who are currently under the protective custody of the Senate.
DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres said that while the Senate has allowed DOJ access to the witnesses, they are only permitted to visit the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) or the DOJ for fact-finding purposes.
Andres added that the department is set to file a formal request soon to place the whistleblowers under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) — ensuring their safety in government safe houses, even if they have not been granted state witness status.
“We will file something formal soon so that all whistleblowers will be accepted as protected witnesses, and we can take responsibility for their protection,” Andres said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, expressed support for the move, saying he believes the Senate will cooperate “as long as the whistleblowers can substantiate their claims.”
Andres also disclosed that resource persons were allowed limited access to their mobile phones, emphasizing transparency during the coordination between the DOJ and the Senate.
Gatchalian, meanwhile, noted growing public impatience over the slow progress of the investigation, particularly after the DOJ confirmed that no freeze order has yet been issued against any politician’s bank accounts.
Despite this, Andres assured the public that investigators are “following all the leads provided by the whistleblowers” to ensure accountability in the multibillion-peso flood control controversy.