The Philippine Senate will continue providing security to whistleblower Engr. Rodolfo “Jun" Lozada and other witnesses until the chamber’s new president says otherwise. Despite the 14th Congress’ sine die adjournment, the Senate will not pull out the security personnel detailed to Lozada, Carolina Inola, and Namnama Pacete Santos, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms head (Ret) General Jose Balajadia said in a text message to GMANews.TV.
When asked until when the Senate will secure the witnesses, Balajadia replied, "until I am ordered to do otherwise."
The Senate is expected to have a new leader once the 15th Congress convenes on July 26.
Lozada has been under Senate protection since 2008 when he returned to the country, after hiding in Hong Kong, to provide testimony regarding anomalies hounding the government’s national broadband network project with China’s ZTE Corporation. Meanwhile, Inola and Santos testified in the Senate investigation against Sto. Domingo, Albay Mayor Celso delos Angeles regarding the alleged financial scam of the Legacy Group of Companies last year. Earlier, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said security for whistleblowers should continue as long as there is a threat. "Kapag natapos na ang hearing at may threat pa ay kailangang proteksyunan. Nung tinanggal namin ang security dun sa iba ay dahil wala na namang threat sa kanila," he said.
He did not identify whistleblowers whose security provisions have been discontinued.
The senator has been pushing for a review of the Witness Protection Program (WPP) and the passage of a law that will provide full protection to whistleblowers, including those who expose anomalies allegedly perpetuated by influential government officials or their involvement in irregular transactions. The WPP was established under Republic Act No. 6981, "The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act," which seeks to protect a person who witnessed or has knowledge of the commission of a crime. - RJAB Jr
