In a heated exchange during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 23, 2025, Senator Rodante Marcoleta and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disagreed over the application of restitution as a condition for admission into the Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Remulla argued that while the law does not mandate restitution, requesting witnesses to return ill-gotten funds serves as a “test of good faith” to assess their reliability. He emphasized that such restitution is not required by law but is a moral expectation to ensure transparency and accountability. GMA Network
Marcoleta countered by asserting that the law does not include restitution as a requisite for WPP applicants. He warned that imposing such a condition could be considered an unlawful modification of existing statutes, potentially leading to legal consequences for those enforcing it. ABS-CBN
The debate intensified as both officials stood firm in their positions, highlighting the ongoing tension between legal interpretation and administrative discretion within the Philippine justice system.
