Palace downplays 'warnings' vs removing witnesses from protection program

Malacañang over the weekend downplayed reported warnings by an anti-crime group that removing some witnesses from the government’s witness protection program may discourage witnesses from blowing the whistle on crimes and cases of corruption. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government has already expanded the witness protection program to include whistleblowers against graft cases. “On the contrary, I think kung maalala ninyo ang sa ilalim ng pamahalaang Aquino, nag-extend ang witness protection program for whistleblowers. Tinaasan natin ang budget nito," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. She also pointed out that any removal from the witness protection program will have to undergo a tight study by the Department of Justice. “Sino (man) ang natatanggal dumadaan sa evaluation ng DOJ kung kailangan pa ilagay sa ilalim ng programa," she said. Valte was replying to reported calls by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption to go slow in removing witnesses like former police Superintendent Cezar Mancao II and Mary “Rosebud" Ong from the witness protection program. Ong claimed Senator Panfilo Lacson had a hand in her removal from the program earlier this week, but he belied her claims. In 2001, Ong accused Lacson of being involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom and summary execution. The senator denied the accusations. On the other hand, Valte said witnesses are not barred from leaving the witness protection program. “Isa ring bagay diyan, kung napailalim sa witness protection program, hindi natin mapigilan kung gusto nila umalis," she said. — MRT/LBG, GMA News