Review of guidelines of witness protection program sought

MANILA, Philippines - Senate majority leader Vicente Sotto III has called for a review of the guidelines of the Witness Protection Program (WPP) to ensure that only credible witnesses are enrolled in the program.

Sotto sought the review after confirming reports that Lion Air president Archibald Po, whose credibility he had questioned, was enrolled in the WPP.

Po had testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee during its investigation on the alleged anomalous purchase of helicopters by the Philippine National Police (PNP) that former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was the real owner of the second hand helicopters sold to the PNP.

He also claimed that the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. leased helicopters from Lion Air for the 2004 presidential elections.

Sotto, who served as Poe’s campaign manager, belied Po’s claims, saying Poe borrowed only one helicopter during the campaign and it did not come from Lion Air.

“The various benefits, rights and privileges attached to the WPP should be afforded only to qualified and deserving witnesses,” he said.

“It is incumbent upon the appropriate authorities to thoroughly look into the credibility and reliability of each witness availing of the WPP in order to properly serve its purpose,” he added.

Sotto previously sought for the review of WPP guidelines amid claims that Jessica Alfaro, the star witness in the Vizconde massacre case, gave false testimony.

Sotto urged the Senate committee on justice and human rights to conduct an inquiry into the Department of Justice’s implementation of the WPP and if the objectives of the law have been achieved.

“There is a need to inquire as to the efficacy of the screening process so as to ensure that only qualified, credible and genuine witnesses are afforded the rights and benefits under the Witness Protection Program,” Sotto stated in his resolution.

Sotto said he also received reports that some witnesses under the WPP were “more favored than others.”

Sotto said stiffer penalties should be imposed against witnesses who provide false testimony aside from their removal from the WPP.

The WPP was created under Republic Act 6981.