Restitution

How many of us will ever see P1 billion in our possession in our lifetime?

- ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN

That’s the amount that dismissed public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo has reportedly promised in restitution to the state.

Henry Alcantara, the dismissed district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Bulacan, has already returned a total of P181 million while the former DPWH regional director for Metro Manila, Gerard Opulencia, has restituted P40 million so far. A private contractor, Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading, has turned over a total of P20 million.

In exchange, all four have been accepted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as state witnesses enjoying government protection along with immunity from prosecution in cases where their testimonies are needed.

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon says that under one of two modes for turning state witness, acceptance as a state witness need not wait for final approval by a judicial court. So the DOJ has accepted the four even before they face court indictment.

Bernardo was just an undersecretary. How much more could have gone in kickbacks to higher ranking officials who had a say in public works projects?

State witnesses bolster criminal prosecution. Sometimes a case hinges entirely on their testimony, making it critical to ensure that no one will get them to recant or, worse, disappear, like ex-Marine Orly Guteza, missing in action since his appearance before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

Still, working stiffs like you and me can’t help wondering how much in ill-gotten wealth state witnesses get to keep, if they can give up P1 billion and fleets of luxury vehicles.