House OKs bill to protect witnesses in congressional probes

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that will allow Congress to provide for a separate witness protection program for resource persons and witnesses in congressional inquiries.

House Bill 5714 was passed on final reading Tuesday night with no abstentions or negative votes. Principal authors of the bill – led by Reps. Juan Edgardo Angara (Aurora); Bernadette Herrera Dy (Bagong Henerasyon party-list); Emmi Calixto Rubiano (Pasay City); Ma. Amelita Villarosa (Mindoro Occidental) and Simeon Datumanong (Maguindanao) – said the measure will strengthen the government’s witness protection program and plug its loopholes, as well as allow witnesses to undergo plastic surgery and change their identities, including making the necessary entries in civil registries.

Under the measure, the Senate and the House of Representatives will have “primary jurisdiction in the administration of the legislative witness protection and security and benefit program,” Herrera-Dy said.

“A witness entered into the legislative witness protection program will enjoy the same rights and benefits of those included in the government program.  However, congressional witness will also bear the same responsibilities,” she said.

HB 5714 provides a witness and his or her family the right to have a “secure housing facility and relocation.”

Courts are barred from issuing injunctions or temporary restraining order to stop the admission of a witness to the program that will be administered by the Department of Justice, according to the bill.

Angara said the measure requires the filing of charges against a witness who “unjustly fails or refuses to cooperate or testify in the investigation or who gives false or misleading testimony.” The charge will carry a four to six years prison term, he said.

The witness is also barred from communicating with the adverse party or to negotiate an amicable settlement.