THE sister of Jun Villamor, one of the alleged middlemen in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, recently gave authorities information that could identify those behind the death of her brother.

Villamor’s sister recently came forward and sought for protection as she claimed to have names of three individuals who may be behind the death of her brother.

According to her, Jun messaged her on Facebook Messenger on October 18, just a few hours before his declared time of death, to reveal the names of three inmates who should be probed should he perish.

This development gives the Mabasa family another chance to determine the mastermind of Percy’s gruesome murder.

Fortunately, the Department of Justice has already secured Villamor’s sister. DOJ spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano IV said they saw a “risk to her life” due to the information she divulged.

The new witness to Percy’s killing should be given more protection if we consider the fate of his brother. Such protection can be bolstered by a proposal from a lawmaker.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel wants Congress to provide a bigger budget to the DOJ’s Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP).

Pimentel said the WPSBP seems to be working well but the program needs greater funding so it can extend highly improved financial, relocation, and livelihood assistance to witnesses.

That way, more witnesses can be encouraged to cooperate in law enforcement investigations and judicial proceedings without fearing not only reprisals but economic dislocation as well, Pimentel said.

The lawmaker said he also wants the WPSBP to establish additional safehouses to accommodate witnesses, and if necessary, to allow them to stay together with their families, adding that the program currently has only 48 hideouts nationwide.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said he is “open” to the possible inclusion in the WPSBP of Joel Escorial, the self-confessed gunman in the murder of Mabasa. The sister of Villamor could also benefit from this.

But Remulla said Escorial did not seek witness protection when he voluntarily surrendered to the authorities out of fear for his personal safety.

The WPSBP has an allocation of only P238 million in the proposed 2023 General Appropriations Act, according to Pimentel, vice chairperson of the House good government and public accountability committee.

A total of 512 witness were covered by the program at the end of 2021, up from 490 at the end of 2020, Pimentel said.

Covered witnesses have aided or are helping in the prosecution of dozens of sensational criminal cases, such as the kidnapping and murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo; the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio Castillo; the Maguindanao massacre; and the murders of Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman – three teenagers who became victims of the government’s war on drugs.

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