Palace, DoJ Defend NBI Probe into SEA Games Irregularities Amid Pressure Claims

MALACAÑANG and the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Thursday defended the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe into alleged irregularities surrounding the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, rejecting claims that the investigation was meant to pressure senator-judges hearing Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial. “The department respects the mandate and authority of the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct investigations, whether upon referral or motu proprio,” the DoJ said in a statement, adding that the bureau has “sufficient operational independence” to perform its investigative functions. Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said the NBI did not need authorization from President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to pursue the inquiry. “The President does not need to order them. That is their job,” she told a news briefing in Filipino, adding that the bureau is duty-bound to investigate reports of possible anomalies. Her remarks came after Senators Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano questioned the timing of the NBI’s announcement, saying it coincided with the Senate impeachment trial where lawmakers are serving as judges. NBI Director Melvin A. Matibag earlier announced the creation of a task force to investigate irregularities involving the New Clark City Sports Complex, including about P10 billion in reportedly unliquidated funds, questions over procurement and the P50-million SEA Games cauldron. Mr. Cayetano, who headed the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee in 2019, said he welcomed any investigation but objected to its public announcement while the impeachment court was in session. “Investigate whatever you want to investigate… No problem with me. But don’t announce it because it will affect the integrity of the court,” he said in mixed English and Filipino during Wednesday’s proceedings. Ms. Castro said the inquiry stemmed from information Mr. Matibag received during a June 15 meeting on the planned NBI Academy in New Clark City, one of the SEA Games venues. She added that the NBI chief had not identified any person as the target of the probe and said people with nothing to hide should not fear a lawful inquiry. The Palace official also rejected claims that Public Works Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon should be implicated, saying he had previously been investigated and cleared over the project. Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic “Mico” F. Clavano IV confirmed that the Office of the Ombudsman had dismissed a complaint against Mr. Dizon and other officials over the construction of facilities for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Mr. Clavano told reporters via Viber that the complaint had been dismissed for insufficiency of evidence in a joint resolution issued in December 2021. Mr. Dizon, then president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, was among the respondents in the complaint involving the construction of sports facilities for the SEA Games. The Commission on Audit earlier flagged deficiencies in the liquidation and procurement of SEA Games expenditures, although organizers have said the audit observations were later addressed or explained. The NBI has yet to announce the scope, timetable or potential resource persons for its investigation. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking and Mark Joseph M. Sanchez