Monday, July 14, 2008 ‘Better’ protection pushed By Katrina A. Balmaceda Sun.Star Correspondent
Amid criticism from an international human rights group, the Department of Justice (DOJ), along with anti-violence crusaders, is seeking improvements in its witness protection program (WPP).
Although the WPP was fully implemented in Central Visayas only in 1994, Assistant State Prosecutor Graeme Elmido claimed that its effectiveness has been noticeable in Cebu.
This was in reaction to a statement made by Amnesty International (AI) Philippine section director Aurora Parong, who had called for a “comprehensive review” of the WPP.
Parong called the WPP “very inadequate,” especially in terms of funding.
She added that the country’s legislators need to review the program’s effectiveness, especially in protecting witnesses of extra-judicial and politically-motivated killings.
There were 223 political detainees in the Philippines as of December 2007, according to records of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines. Thirty-four of them came
from Central and Eastern Visayas.
Parong wondered how witnesses of politically-motivated killings could trust the program’s security if the protection offered also came from the government.
Independent
But Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission co-vice-chairman Dante Jimenez had earlier said the “judiciary must be independent of political gimmickry.”
“Don’t politicize any criminal act,” Jimenez had said.
Jimenez came to Cebu last month to conduct an evaluation of the WPP all over the country.
Elmido admitted that the WPP in the Visayas is still “very young.”
“It’s a work in progress, but it’s slowly getting to where we want it to be,” he said.
He added that the WPP’s effectiveness had been manifested in some successfully prosecuted cases in Cebu.
“It’s effective when the witness, in testifying, isn’t that afraid and is more willing to cooperate,” Elmido said.
He added that any witness who wanted to apply for protection under the DOJ’s program could do so. He clarified, however, that the threat to the witness’ life must first be evaluated to ensure its legitimacy.
But Elmido declined to divulge statistics or to confirm whether some witnesses seeking protection under the WPP were involved in cases against government officials.
“A threat is a threat whether or not it comes from a government official,” he said.
As for vigilante killings, Jimenez said that he has not encountered any witness seeking protection. He explained that only few witnesses of vigilante killings have spoken out.
In seeking a review of the WPP, Parong also questioned the capacity of present legislators to “really investigate” cases.
She also called for the establishment of a forensic center that would be independent from the government.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 Director Medardo de Lemos said this is not necessary.
Instead, he recommended that funds be brought in to improve the NBI’s present forensic facilities.
But Jimenez had admitted that the WPP lacks funding.
Jimenez, whose brother’s life was taken by members of drug syndicates, added that after evaluating the country’s WPP, a massive information program will be undertaken. But this will not only call for awareness of the program but also trust in the WPP.
He visited the DOJ in Cebu along with Thelma Chiong of the Crusade Against Violence. Chiong lost two daughters when they were murdered almost 11 years ago.
As Chiong put it, her goal is to “restore trust in the justice system.”
“Have faith in the witness protection program,” Elmido also said.
