MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla engaged in a heated exchange on Tuesday over whether restitution should be required for applicants to the Witness Protection Program (WPP), particularly in cases involving financial crimes.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Marcoleta stressed that restitution was not a requisite under the law for WPP applicants.
“In the process, restitution is not one of the requisites. That is the law,” he said, emphasizing that altering this would be tantamount to changing legal provisions.
Remulla, however, argued that while not mandated by law, considering restitution was morally and practically necessary to test an applicant’s goodwill and preserve assets in cases of financial wrongdoing.
“It is not in the law, but it is also what is morally right, what is expected of us,” he said, adding that early restitution could help safeguard public assets.
Marcoleta countered, noting that civil liability is impliedly instituted in criminal prosecutions and restitution naturally follows after the court determines the financial obligation. “It will come after. It cannot be immediately,” he said. He warned that the Secretary’s suggestion to require restitution before admission blurs legal procedures.
The exchange escalated as Remulla maintained that the unique gravity of financial crimes justified evaluating restitution upfront.
“The more assets that were able to preserve at the outset, the better for our country,” he said, insisting that his approach reflects operational practice rather than personal opinion.
Marcoleta remained firm, cautioning that modifying legal requisites could have serious consequences.
“Do not change the provision of law, Mr. Secretary. You may be disbarred from doing this,” he said.
