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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Benitez prods DOJ to offer whistleblower protection for witnesses in flood control projects controversy

Benitez prods DOJ to offer whistleblower protection for witnesses in flood control projects controversy

Published Aug 25, 2025 03:59 pm

At A Glance

  • Is it time for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to activate a whistleblower protection program for individuals who want to testify on the flood control projects controversy? Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez thinks so.
Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez (Facebook)
Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez (Facebook)


Is it time for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to activate a whistleblower protection program for individuals who want to testify on the flood control projects controversy? Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez thinks so.
Benitez, in a statement Monday, Aug. 25, also reckoned that the government should be more proactive in searching for such individuals to help authorities get to the bottom of the issue.
"The [DOJ] must not wait for witnesses to step forward if we want to try, convict, and imprison all those who have plundered public funds intended to save our people from the threats of flooding," he said
"Thus, I urge the [DOJ] to seek out and protect under the mantle of the whistleblower program those officials and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), along other persons with key information, who wish to stand as witnesses against the massive, corrupt conspiracy that is at work," he added.
Benitez, a returning solon in the 20th Congress, made the call amid a Malacañang-led audit on flood control projects and growing public outrage over allegations that certain lawmakers filled their pockets through such projects.
He underscored the importance of the testimonies from people who have personal knowledge of what truly happened.
"Pagkakataon na ito para maisiwalat nila ang katotohanan. Responsibilidad ng pamahalaan na bigyan sila ng plataporma at karampatang proteksyon upang maitaguyod ang katotohan," he said.
(This is an opportunity for them to unveil the truth. It's the government’s responsibility to give them the platform and ample protection to uphold this truth.)
"The fight to bring to justice those who endanger the lives of our people will be long and hard. But it is something that we cannot set aside," Benitez said.
The Visayan lawmaker says seeking the truth on the issue is the only option, "if we wish to change things for the better- to have public infrastructure that takes no shortcuts and does not jeopardize life and safety, to have government processes that are free from corrupt practices, and to put fear in the hearts of those who would corrupt the system for material gain."
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