Malacañang yesterday said that participants-turned-whistleblowers in anomalous flood control projects must first return the money they stole before they can avail of government protection, as it emphasized that President Marcos is outraged by the extent of the corruption scheme being unraveled by Senators.
Presidential Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Mr. Marcos was “furious” upon hearing a witness at the Senate inquiry recount how lawmakers now demand kickbacks equivalent to 25% to 30% of project costs.
This is significantly higher than the percentage they reportedly demanded previously, which was 10% during the term of President Benigno Aquino III, and 12% to 15% under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“That’s precisely why he initiated this investigation… no public official should take pride in receiving such huge kickbacks,” Castro said in Filipino.
She referred to the sharp rise in illicit commissions as a telltale of “excessive greed and insatiability” among corrupt officials.
The Palace official also weighed in on Senators’ debate over whether contractors involved in corruption should return their alleged ill-gotten wealth before being admitted to the Witness Protection Program (WPP), saying it is a reasonable condition under the law.
Citing Republic Act No. 6981, Castro said the Department of Justice (DOJ) may impose reasonable conditions before granting protection, including full cooperation and disclosure of all wrongdoing.
“When they say ‘tell all,’ it means they must also disclose their liabilities,” she said.
“If they admit to stealing from the government, it is only right that they return what they took to show their good faith,” Castro added.
The Palace official pointed out that extending protection to witnesses under threat imposes a financial burden on the state.
“The government will be spending money on them, so they must also help the government in return,” Castro said.
The Senate’s ongoing probe into massive corruption in the government’s flood control program has sparked public outrage, with calls mounting for accountability among lawmakers and contractors implicated in the scandal.
