Justice Department Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Fredderick A. Vida on Monday said there will be no livestreaming of interviews with witnesses applying for government protection in connection with the massive flood control scandal, citing the risk of compromising the investigation and tipping off those involved.

Vida said that allowing public viewing of witness testimonies could expose the government’s strategies, as lawyers of those implicated are closely monitoring developments.

“If you are watching, the lawyers of those who were involved in the ghost flood control project. So we should help each other so the enemies will not telegraph those we want to be answerable to the wrongdoing,” Vida said in his first press briefing after his designation as DOJ OIC.

He emphasized that the department is taking precautions to avoid leaks and ensure the integrity of ongoing investigations.

“Tandaan natin, may mga kalaban tayo. Ang kalaban ay ‘yung nagsamantala sa sistema. Ang gusto natin mapanagot sila,” Vida said.

The DOJ official underscored that confidentiality is crucial to building an airtight case, stressing that the process takes time as the department must meticulously evaluate witness statements.

“The issue is difficult because our job at the DOJ is that the statements by potential witnesses are true. We are using our own talent to study the matter,” said Vida.

Calling for public patience, Vida described the probe as a “long task ahead” and urged continued public trust in the process.

“So we are asking you to please give a chance, even a little more trust, that this administration under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will do the right thing where the evidence leads us to,” he said.

The DOJ, the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) are continuously coordinating on the evidence-gathering phase, particularly in taking testimonies from individuals applying for inclusion in the Witness Protection Program (WPP) related to the flood control anomalies.