Cayetano lauds granting of immunity to whilstleblowers, praises decision to reject Napoles immunity plea

By Office of the Senate Majority Leader
June 6, 2014

PASAY CITY – Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter "Companero" S. Cayetano lauded the Office of the Ombudsman for granting immunity to pork scam whistleblowers and for recognizing Janet Lim-Napoles to be the "most guilty" in the misuse of government funds.

"Tama ang desisyon ng Ombudsman to side with the whistleblowers. This will give them the assurance na magpalit man ng administrasyon, protektado pa rin sila. I laud the ombudsman for her decision" Cayetano said.

As it approved immunity for Luy and other witnesses, the Ombudsman denied Napoles' bid for immunity for "not meeting the qualifications to become an immune witness."

"I have always been 100 percent against any type of immunity for Napoles and I'm happy with the Ombudsman's decision," Cayetano added.

He also said that the administration should provide more incentives and protection to whistleblowers to encourage them to step forward and reveal what they know in hopes of exposing corruption in government.

“There is a need to finally pass the Whistleblowers Act and expand and strengthen our Witness Protection Program to protect witnesses from threats and make sure that their role in exposing anomalies will not harm their family’s safety and livelihood." Cayetano said.

He added that we must learn from other countries where the safety and livelihood of whistleblowers are protected and ensured long after they have testified.