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Lawyer backs Remulla: 'Pwede hingan ng restitution ang witness protection'

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

A litigation lawyer and spokesperson for the Trillion Peso March is backing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s statement that the government can ask for restitution from a person seeking admission into the state’s witness protection program.“Tama po si SOJ Remulla na pwede naman dagdagan o hingan ng restitution ‘yung mga witness protection. It can be part of…Kasi pagpasok mo sa witness protection, gagawa kayo ng kasunduan with the DOJ. Pwedeng part ito ng kasunduan na lalagdaan nila,” lawyer Howard Calleja said in a DZMM interview.“Hindi naman limitado sa binibigay ng batas na mga qualification, those are minimum qualifications…Pwedeng isama itong mga kinurakot o kinulimbat nila sa taong-bayan,” he added.Section 5 of Republic  Act No. 6981 or the Witness Protection Law states that: “Before a person is provided protection under this Act, he shall first execute a memorandum of agreement which shall set forth his responsibilities including…to comply with legal obligations and civil judgments against him.”Calleja said that while the Senate can recommend a person for witness protection, it is still up to the DOJ to make the decision. He also pointed out the irony of admitting a person into the WPP, which would include round-the-clock security, a safehouse and possibly a new identity, without first returning the money stolen. &quot;Parang lalabas pag nagnakaw ka ng malaki tapos magtago ka na lang sa witness protection, ma se-save mo lahat ng ninakaw mo. Ang nakakatawa pa dito, nakabantay pa sa iyo, gobyerno. Para secure ka. Nagnakaw ka na, gagastusan ka pa ng gobyerno,&quot; he said. He added that state witnesses are usually the &quot;least guilty&quot; in the crime, and not the principals. The issue of restitution was raised anew Tuesday after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta warned Remulla that he could be disbarred if he insists on restitution before admitting the Discaya couple into the witness protection program.Remulla countered that while restitution is not a requisite for witness protection, it is “morally right” especially since the Discayas are accused of a financial crime after allegedly <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/discaya-couple-are-ph-s-flood-control-king-and-queen-with-p31-b-in-flood-control-projects-pcij-0843">pocketing billions of pesos in flood control kickbacks. </a><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uVA3E9k0QDc?&amp;t=9s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>“Justice can only be attained if there is restitution so that is the principle...&quot;

A litigation lawyer and spokesperson for the Trillion Peso March is backing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s statement that the government can ask for restitution from a person seeking admission into the state’s witness protection program.

A litigation lawyer and spokesperson for the Trillion Peso March is backing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s statement that the government can ask for restitution from a person seeking admission into the state’s witness protection program.