DOJ, Palace backing NBI plan to dig up SEA Games internet hosting difficulty

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Malacañang threw their full assist on Thursday behind the National Bureau of Investigation’s resolution to reopen its investigation into alleged irregularities within the Philippines’ internet hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, insisting that the inquiry is pushed by proof, not politics or the continuing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The DOJ defended the NBI after Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Pia Cayetano alleged that the renewed probe into the controversial P50-million SEA Games cauldron and different infrastructure tasks in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, seven years after internet hosting the 2019 SEA Games, was meant to intimidate them as senator-judges in Duterte’s impeachment proceedings.

“The department has full confidence that the NBI will continue to carry out its work with the professionalism, integrity, and independence expected of it,” the DOJ mentioned in a press release.

READ: Cayetano-Matibag spat revives ‘kaldero’ difficulty

It confused that the NBI, one in every of its connected businesses, has the authority to provoke investigations both by way of referrals or motu proprio (by itself), and that its actions are “grounded solely in its mandate and the rule of law.”

“The department fully respects the views expressed by Sen. Pia Cayetano. We assure her and the public that the actions of the [NBI] are grounded solely in its mandate and the rule of law,” it added.

Probe not political

The Palace echoed the DOJ’s place, rejecting claims that the timing of the investigation was linked to the impeachment trial.

“It is the mandate of the NBI and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police to investigate possible anomalies,” Palace press officer Claire Castro mentioned.

READ: NBI probe into 2019 SEA Games not meant to intimidate – Palace

“They do not need instructions from the president. That is their job.”

Castro mentioned people who’ve achieved nothing mistaken don’t have any purpose to worry the investigation.

“A person who has nothing to fear cannot be intimidated. The investigation is being conducted because there were legitimate issues dating back to 2019. It is not meant to intimidate or harass people who have done nothing wrong,” she asserted.

Castro additionally denied that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had ordered the investigation, saying the NBI acted by itself after receiving info pointing to doable irregularities.

She suggested Cayetano to not overreact or get indignant over the investigation, “otherwise, people may begin to wonder if he is guilty.”

Fresh leads

According to Castro, NBI Director Melvin Matibag acquired info in June whereas preparations have been underway for the institution of the company’s 70-hectare academy in New Clark City, the place lots of the SEA Games amenities have been constructed.

Matibag earlier disclosed that investigators had acquired contemporary info indicating that round P10 billion in authorities funds spent for SEA Games-related tasks remained unliquidated, prompting the bureau to revisit the case.

The investigation will look at the reported lack of aggressive bidding for some infrastructure tasks, the controversial P50-million cauldron used in the course of the opening ceremonies, and different expenditures tied to the nation’s internet hosting of the regional sporting occasion.

The Cayetano siblings questioned why the investigation was being revived practically seven years after the video games, with Alan Cayetano describing the transfer as an try to stress senator-judges forward of the impeachment trial.

Alan Cayetano chaired the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), the personal basis tasked with organizing the nation’s internet hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.

He denied accountability for the development of the New Clark City sports activities amenities, saying these have been carried out by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, not Phisgoc.

Pia Cayetano likewise raised the difficulty in the course of the impeachment proceedings, saying the timing of the investigation was “not acceptable, and possibly contemptible.”

Not focusing on Alan

The Palace, nonetheless, maintained that the investigation was not targerting any specific particular person, rejecting claims that Cayetano was being singled out.

Castro mentioned Matibag merely introduced that the NBI would examine the alleged anomalies and had not recognized any particular person as the topic of the probe.

She recalled that Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon had been investigated and cleared by the Ombudsman, whereas Cayetano was by no means formally investigated as a result of then President Rodrigo Duterte had publicly cleared the senator earlier than any investigation may proceed.

Matibag mentioned the bureau is open to inviting Dizon, who headed the BCDA in the course of the development of the New Clark City sports activities advanced, not as a suspect however to assist make clear the infrastructure tasks.

He seconded Castro’s assertion that the allegations beforehand raised in opposition to Dizon had already been resolved by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Also on Thursday, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed that the graft criticism filed in opposition to Dizon over the SEA Games amenities was dismissed in December 2021 because of inadequate proof.

“Upon checking the records of this case, it appears that the case filed against Sec. Vince Dizon regarding the construction of the sports facilities for the 2019 SEA Games has been dismissed for insufficiency of evidence,” Clavano mentioned.

Malversation of public funds and graft fees have been filed in opposition to Dizon in October 2020 over the P9.5-billion sports activities amenities used within the 2019 SEA Games, which allegedly bypassed public bidding.

Other respondents have been BCDA’s inner lawyer Elvira Estanislao, authorities company counsel Elpidio Vega, and Isaac David, director of Malaysian agency MTD Capital Berhad, BCDA’s companion within the challenge.

Matibag mentioned the Ombudsman’s ruling covers allegations involving Dizon’s function within the infrastructure tasks however doesn’t preclude the NBI from inspecting different points which have surfaced by way of newly obtained info.

He mentioned anybody with information related to the investigation, together with former officers, could also be invited to help investigators.

Flood management problem

Alan Cayetano, for his half, mentioned he would assist the NBI probe supplied the federal government would additionally permit senators within the minority to conduct a full inquiry into alleged anomalies in flood management tasks.

In a Facebook livestream, the senator challenged the DOJ, Malacañang and the NBI to pursue an intensive investigation into the 2019 SEA Games.

“We will support you totally,” he mentioned.

He proposed that the Senate, notably the blue ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, be allowed to analyze the federal government’s flood management program concurrently.

The controversy over the SEA Games cauldron dates again to November 2019, when then Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon questioned the federal government’s resolution to spend P50 million for the construction, arguing that the quantity may have funded about 50 public college lecture rooms.

At the time, then Sen. Sonny Angara, who sponsored the BCDA price range for 2020, defended the expenditure, saying the federal government sought to stage a formidable internet hosting of the SEA Games and showcase Filipino creativity and design similar to earlier host international locations in Southeast Asia. —With experiences from John Eric Mendoza, Mary Joy Salcedo, and Keith Clores /atm