MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said there is no law preventing individuals involved in the flood control corruption scandal from voluntarily returning stolen funds and luxury vehicles.

The statement came during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on September 23, as debates intensified over the restitution of the misappropriated funds and assets.

“Si Ginoong Hernandez, halimbawa, sinurrender na sa ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) yung ilang vehicles at sinasabi niya willing pa sya i-surrender yung Lamborghini. That’s his voluntary act,” Pangilinan said.

“If Engineer Alcantara will do the same voluntarily as a sign of goodwill, there is no law that prevents him from doing that,” he added.

Pangilinan emphasized that while no law requires state witnesses to surrender stolen funds or assets, the government can take a broader approach when the offer is voluntary.

“In fact, yung pagbabalik is a sign of cooperation, which the courts will eventually consider when it sentences or if it provides the exemption and the immunity, hindi po ba?,” Pangilinan asked Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.

The senator added that this could serve as guidance for current and future state witness applicants, signaling to courts that their cooperation may lead to exclusion, exemption, or immunity. “And at the same time, kapag may sintensiya, pati yun mapapababa pa, among others,” he said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently reviewing the affidavits of contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, and engineers Brice Hernandez and Henry Alcantara of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for the possibility of placing them under the government’s Witness Protection Program as state witnesses.