MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday emphasized that all proceedings involving state witnesses are confidential and cannot be disclosed to the public.

“We’ll have to strictly abide by Section 7 of Republic Act No. 6981 (Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act) for this. Unless a written order has been issued by the Department of Justice, all proceedings and actions taken in the Witness Protection Program shall be kept confidential,” DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said in a statement.

“This includes the Memorandum of Agreement agreed upon by any covered witness and the Department, if any,” he added.

Martinez made the clarification in response to reports that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo returned funds he allegedly misappropriated, a condition set by the DOJ for him to become a state witness.

Bernardo previously implicated several incumbent and former lawmakers from both the Senate and House of Representatives in alleged irregularities involving flood-control and other infrastructure projects covering 2005 to 2025. (PNA)