The Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken a significant step in its probe into alleged irregularities in flood control projects by admitting several former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and a private contractor into the Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Key Witnesses Granted State Protection
During a press conference on Thursday, January 15, 2025, Justice Acting Secretary Fredderick Vida announced the move. The individuals now under state protection are former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, ex-DPWH Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, DPWH engineer Gerard Opulencia, and Sally Santos, the owner and manager of Syms Construction Trading. They were admitted after expressing their willingness to cooperate with investigators.
Vida clarified that a key right under the WPP is immunity from criminal liability, but only for the specific case in which the witness is assisting the government.
Some Witnesses Do Not Qualify, Restitution Begins
However, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon provided an update on two other individuals. He stated that DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, who were earlier considered "protected witnesses," do not currently qualify as state witnesses.
"We cannot disclose the results of the evaluation... But suffice it to say that, at this time, we do not see any need to discharge them in relation to the case for which they are seeking to be admitted as state witnesses," Fadullon explained.
In a related development, DOJ officials revealed that the four state witnesses have already begun making restitution. They have so far returned a total of P316 million to the National Government. Authorities are expecting to recover approximately P1.5 billion from the group, with about P1 billion of that amount anticipated to come from former undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
Ongoing Investigation into Flood Projects
This action is part of the DOJ's ongoing and wider investigation into suspected anomalies in the implementation of public flood control projects. The admission of high-level insiders into the WPP suggests the probe is deepening, aiming to uncover the full extent of the alleged irregularities and recover misused public funds.
