NBI to probe alleged anomalies in 2019 SEA Games projects

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Wednesday said he would create a task force to investigate alleged anomalies in the bidding and funding of projects related to the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

In an interview, Matibag said the bureau recently received "new information and documents" involving the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).

He said the case involves a "huge amount of money."

"If you recall, 'yung bidding na ginawa dito tapos unliquidated so marami 'yan na kailangang tingnan. That's why I'm creating a task force na composed of our Financial Investigation Unit at saka ang aming Special Action Unit to investigate the matter," he said.

(If you recall, there was the bidding, followed by unliquidated funds, so there are many things that need to be looked into. That is why I am creating a task force composed of our Financial Investigation Unit and our Special Action Unit to investigate the matter.)

In a separate interview on Tuesday, Matibag claimed that billions of pesos were spent on the SEA Games Sports Complex. He also alleged that a private company received P10 billion through "congressional insertions."

Aside from these, he said the NBI would also examine the P50-million 2019 SEA Games cauldron project.

Matibag said the NBI would coordinate with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commission on Audit (COA), and other agencies as part of the investigation.

He added that investigators are already looking into several individuals, although no one has been formally identified as a subject of the probe.

"As we speak, wala pa naman tayong sasabihin na na-identify but there are already personalities na nakikita natin," he said.

(As we speak, we cannot yet say that anyone has been formally identified, but there are already personalities we are looking at.)

Matibag also denied that the investigation was politically motivated.

"I'm always respectful to everybody, especially to the members of the Senate. It so happened siguro na si Senator Cayetano ay involved dito, at tayo naman, ang record ng NBI, we'll always go where the evidence leads us," he said.

(I'm always respectful to everybody, especially to the members of the Senate. It just so happened that Senator Cayetano was involved in this, and as far as the NBI is concerned, we will always go where the evidence leads us.)

He was referring to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who served as chairperson of PHISGOC during the country's hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.

"Kung kailangan natin siya tanungin, we will respectfully ask him," Matibag added.

(If we need to question him, we will respectfully ask him.)

Responding to Matibag's public statements, Cayetano took the Senate floor on Wednesday and hinted that the NBI's planned investigation into the 2019 SEA Games was intended to intimidate members of the Senate impeachment court.

He also accused Matibag of undermining the integrity of the Senate impeachment court by publicly announcing an investigation into alleged anomalies in the 2019 SEA Games just days before his scheduled testimony in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

He said that he was not opposing any investigation but objected to its public announcement while the impeachment proceedings were ongoing.

"If you think something is wrong, investigate it," he said. "But do not announce it to the media, because it compromises the integrity of this court," he said, maintaining that he would continue performing his duties as senator-judge despite the investigation.

"Am I intimidated? I have no choice. Ilalaban ko na ito (I will fight it out). I will do what I have to do," he said. — MCG, GMA News