Malacañang agreed that the Discaya contractor couple should first return their alleged ill-gotten wealth as proof of good faith before being admitted to the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this following the debate that ensued in a Senate hearing this week, on whether there should be additional requirements before entering witness protection.

In a Palace press briefing, Castro explained that while the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act does not categorically impose extra requirements for admission, it allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to set reasonable conditions.

“Isanasaad din po sa RA 6981 Section 5 paragraph E: '...to cooperate with respect to all reasonable requests of officers and employees of the government who are providing protection under this Act,’” she said on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

“In other words, malaya po na makapagbibigay ng mga risonableng requirements or mga kondisyon ang DOJ bago maisama ang isang witness under the Witness Protection Program (The DOJ is free to impose reasonable requirements or conditions before a witness is admitted to the program),” she added.

The Palace Press Officer said any witness asking for state protection must first commit to telling the whole truth, including their own liabilities.

“Kapag sinabi nilang ‘tell all,’ ibig sabihin pati iyong liabilities nila ay dapat na maisiwalat (When they say ‘tell all,’ that means even their liabilities must be revealed),” she said.

Castro argued that if the Discayas admit to stealing public funds, then it follows that they must also return what they allegedly took.

“Hindi po ba nararapat din na isauli nila ito upang makita ang kanilang good faith? (Shouldn’t they return this to show good faith?),” she said.

The Palace official said it is unfair for witnesses to ask for protection and state funding from the government while holding on to funds they themselves admitted were stolen.

“Ang mga witness na nagnanais ng proteksyon mula sa gobyerno ay humihingi ng tulong sa gobyerno. Hindi po ba dapat din na sila ay magbalik sa gobyerno habang sila ay pinoproteksyonan? (Witnesses seeking protection from government are asking for help. Shouldn’t they also return what they stole while under protection?),” Castro said.

She added that the government should not have to wait to file charges to recover money when witnesses already acknowledge their role in corruption.

“Bakit pa natin hihintayin na ang gobyerno ay magsampa ng kaso para mabawi ang mga nanakaw nila kung sila naman mismo ang umaamin na sila ay may nanakaw sa gobyerno? (Why should government wait to file a case to recover what they stole if they themselves already admit they stole from the government?),” she said.

Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and his wife, Cezarah “Sarah” Cruz Discaya, are contractors now under investigation for their alleged role in corruption schemes involving public officials and questionable flood control and infrastructure projects.