Palace defends NBI probe on SEAG; Matibag scraps trip

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang defended the National Bureau of Investigation’s probe into the alleged anomalies surrounding the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games facilities, saying the NBI has the mandate to look into reports of irregularities.

“As the head of the NBI, if you heard something like that, what is the right thing to do? Disregard? Sleep on it? Ignore? Or investigate? Shouldn’t he investigate it?” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a media briefing yesterday.

Castro also refuted allegations that the investigation is intended to intimidate minority senators in the impeachment court.

“A person who has nothing to be afraid of will never be intimidated. The investigation will be done because there is an issue that dates back to 2019. This is not meant to intimidate, to oppress a person who has not committed any wrongdoing,” she said.

“There should be no reaction claiming that the investigation is meant to run after them one by one. I hope that is not their view because they might be seen as guilty. If there is nothing to be afraid of, there is no need to be intimidated, there is no need to be angry about any investigation.”

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has been cleared from allegations of irregularities. Dizon oversaw the building of the New Clark City Phase 1A that housed the main facilities used in the 2019 SEA Games as president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

“From what I know, Sen. Alan Cayetano, who was speaker of the House at the time, was not investigated. From what I know, former president Rodrigo Duterte immediately cleared Sen. Alan Cayetano at the time and no investigation progressed,” Castro said.

Cayetano, who was the foreign affairs secretary when the deal was signed and construction started, said the probe was announced after he questioned Matibag’s request to reset his testimony at the Senate so he could attend a symposium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Matibag cancels trip

Yesterday, Matibag said he had canceled the trip.

Cayetano said the NBI could have quietly investigated the 2019 SEA Games instead of publicly announcing the probe.

Matibag defended the agency’s probe, describing it as a mere “fact finding investigation” that officials should not fear.

“We will do a fact-finding into PHISGOC because it did not submit an audit,” Matibag told reporters yesterday.

“What are we looking for? The funds that came in because, to my initial observation of what was given to us, this is (over) P2 billion of government funds that was put into PHISGOC even though it’s a non-governmental organization.”

“Putting up foundations was the scheme used before by (Janet) Napoles, so that’s what we’re investigating. Because the money came from the government, this should be subjected to liquidation,” Matibag stressed.

The NBI fact-finding investigation will focus on two aspects. One is whether the Southeast Asia Games Organizing Committee properly liquidated its funds, looking into payments made to officials, tickets purchased, and food and uniforms provided to athletes.

It will also look into the joint venture agreement between the BCDA and a Malaysian company for the sports complex.

Dizon cleared

The complaint filed against Dizon and others over alleged irregularities in the construction of the 2019 SEA Games sports venues was dismissed over a year after it was submitted to the ombudsman.

“Upon checking the records of this case, it appears that the case filed against Sec. Vince Dizon, etc. regarding the construction of the sports facilities for the 2019 SEA Games has been dismissed for in sufficiency of evidence,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said, adding that the ruling came from “a joint resolution issued back in December 2021.” — Ghio Ong, Mark Ernest Villeza, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, EJ Macababbad, Daphne Galvez