CHIZ PUSHES CONGRESS OKAY OF WHISTLEBLOWER BILLS

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday pushed for the approval of twin measures that would empower Congress to craft its own witness protection program and set up a reward system for whistleblowers of graft and corruption in government.

"Jun Lozada and Joey de Venecia would have benefited from these proposals if they had been passed and signed into law. These are meant encourage those who have witnessed crimes, especially graft and corruption in government, to come forward and testify against perpetrators," said the 40-year old lawmaker, who chairs the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

The senator said that the committee has approved the bills on the protection, security and benefits of whistleblowers and amendments to the Witness Protection and Benefits Act to allow the Senate and the House of Representatives to have its own witness protection program.

Escudero said the current law on witness protection only empowers the Department of Justice to manage the program and the amendment seeks to allow both houses of Congress to promulgate their own for witnesses or resource persons in congressional investigations in aid of legislation.

"However, as in the cases of Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, Sandra Cam, Michaelangelo Zuce and many others who have come forward and disclosed what they know of wrongdoing in the government, Congress remains powerless to provide them protection," he said.

Under the proposed measure, the Senate or House can promulgate their own rules in implementing their respective Witness Protection, Security and Benefits Program for qualified witnesses.

The other measure, the proposed Whistleblowers Act, sets up a reward system for those who will step forward and expose graft and corruption in government.

The highest reward is P5 million if the testimony of the whistleblower involves a public official with a salary grade of 33. The reward ranges from P50,000 to P5 million, depending on the salary grade of the official involved, which is from SG 1 to 33.

"All forms of graft and corruption punishable under our laws are included in this measure,' Escudero said.

Also, whistleblowers can come from the public and private sectors for as long as their disclosure proves to be necessary in the prosecution of the criminal offense of graft and corruption.

Escudero said under the bill, the Office of the Ombudsman shall institute a "Whistleblower's Program" in order to carry out the spirit of the law.

"Aside from the reward, the whistleblower will be entitled to several other benefits such as protection and security. They shall be protected from retaliatory acts in connection to their disclosures from their employers and a whole gamut of other benefits under the law," he said.

The senator said these two measures are principally aimed at curbing graft and corruption in government and punish those responsible, although it also allows for a much wider application.