DPWH Chief Dizon Ready to Cooperate in 2019 SEA Games Spending Probe

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday said he is ready to cooperate with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in its investigation into alleged irregularities in the government's spending for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), stating he has a "clear conscience." Dizon said he would comply with any subpoena that may be issued by the NBI as part of its inquiry. "We will cooperate because we have a clear conscience," Dizon told reporters during an inspection of the Phase 2 rehabilitation of EDSA early Monday. Dizon was at that time the chief of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which oversaw the construction of the sports facilities at New Clark City. The DPWH chief also said the allegations had already been addressed after a complaint filed against him and several other officials was dismissed in 2021. “Kagaya na rin ng sinabi ng Ombudsman at NBI, 2021 pa ‘yan na-dismiss. May nagkaso na dyan laban sa akin, laban sa iba’t ibang mga opisyales pero na-dismiss na ‘yan December 2021 pa. Kampante tayo dyan. Pero at the same time kung merong mga imbestigasyon kampante rin tayo, tayo ay makikipag-cooperate dyan kasi malinis ang konsensya natin at naniniwala tayo na napakaayos nung mga facilities na ‘yan at napakaayos ng pagkagawa,” ani Dizon. (As both the Ombudsman and the NBI have said, the case was dismissed in 2021. A complaint was filed against several other officials and me, but it was dismissed as early as December 2021. We are confident about that. At the same time, if there are investigations, we remain confident. We will cooperate because we have a clear conscience, and we believe those facilities were built properly and to a high standard.) Earlier, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla ordered investigators to take another look at the alleged irregularities in the construction of sports facilities for the 2019 SEA Games, some five years after a case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. NBI director Melvin Matibag had also said the NBI would investigate the alleged anomalies. The issue highlights public interest in the use of public funds and transparency in the development of sports infrastructure in the Philippines. While the SEA Games are considered a significant regional sporting event, questions surrounding its hosting costs and expenditures are being scrutinized.