NBI chief says no one named in announcing 2019 SEA Games probe

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Thursday said he was surprised at the reaction he received after he announced the NBI's investigation into irregularities that allegedly happened in the country's hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. In reaction to the probe, Senators Pia Cayetano and Alan Peter Cayetano, the chairperson of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), claimed that the investigation is meant to intimidate and distract him from the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Matibag said he did not know where this came from. “Wala naman tayong ginagawang pananakot. Kapag tinignan natin ang mandato ng NBI, it is our mandate,” he said. (We are not trying to intimidate anyone. If we look at the NBI’s mandate, it is simply our mandate.) “Kung maaalala niyo, wala naman akong binanggit na pangalan kung ano ‘yung sinasabi ko. Ang sinasabi ko lang, ‘yung PHISGOC kailangan imbestigahan. Kaya nagulat ako na nagkaroon ng reaksyon na ganon,” Matibag said in an ambush. (If you recall, I did not mention anyone by name in what I said. All I said was that PHISGOC needs to be investigated. That is why I was surprised that there was such a reaction.) Matibag previously disclosed the bureau recently received "new information and documents" involving the PHISGOC. He clarified that the PHISGOC will be investigated as it was not liquidated or audited. He said that around P2 billion in government funds was given to PHISGOC. “Ang tinitingnan natin diyan, ‘yung mga ginawa, ‘yung uniporme, ‘yung mga allowances sa atleta, pagkain ng atleta, ‘yung travel tickets. Kasi may mga sinasabi dito, may mga travel agency na hindi pa nabayaran. May mga allegation na ganon,” he said. (What we are looking into are the expenditures, the uniforms, the athletes’ allowances, the athletes’ meals, and the travel tickets. Because there are claims that some travel agencies have not yet been paid. There are allegations like that.) He also stressed that he is not the accused in the impeachment trial, but a witness of both the House prosecution panel and Duterte’s defense team. “So hindi ko po alam kung saan nanggaling ‘yung sinabing tayo ay nananakot o kung ano pa man,” Matibag said. (So I do not know where the claim came from that we are intimidating anyone or doing anything of that sort.) When asked if he has a message to Cayetano, Matibag said he is praying for him. “Katulad niyan na palaging nagdadasal ay pinagdadasal ko rin siya. At wala naman tayong balak na siya ay personalin o anumang. Ang sa akin lang ang NBI po, we are just doing our mandate, and as always ang message natin no one is above the law,” he said. (Just as he always prays, I also pray for him. And we have no intention of taking it personally or targeting him. As far as I am concerned, the NBI is just doing its mandate, and as always, our message is that no one is above the law.) He also stressed that no innocent should be afraid. “Sila na ‘yung nagsasabi diyan. Narinig ko si Senator Robin Padilla, Anong sabi niya? Di ba kapag may kaso, harapin natin. Tama po ba, di ba?” he said. (They themselves are the ones saying that. I heard Senator Robin Padilla say it, didn’t he? He said that if there is a case against you, then you should face it. That’s correct, isn’t it?) “Kung wala kang kasalanan, bakit ka matatakot? Parang yung sinabi rin ni Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, kung walang namatay, eh di wala pa lang krimen. Kung walang ginawang pangungurakot, hindi ka dapat matakot,” he added. (If you have done nothing wrong, why should you be afraid? It’s like what Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also said: if no one died, then no crime was committed. If you did not engage in corruption, then you should have nothing to fear.) Meanwhile, Matibag said he was surprised that Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon is being tagged in their investigation, saying the Ombudsman has already cleared him. The NBI director is expected to face the impeachment court next Monday, July 20. “Kahit anong gusto nilang itanong. ‘Yun po ay proseso. Syempre may sinusundan po ‘yung mga abogado. As long as it will not compromise naman ‘yung aking rights at hindi naman tayo dapat siguro bastusin doon, eh, dapat naman po magalang na pag tatanong,” he said. (They may ask whatever they want. That is part of the process. Of course, the lawyers have procedures they must follow. As long as it does not compromise my rights, and as long as I am not treated disrespectfully, then the questioning should, of course, be conducted respectfully.) –NB, GMA News