NBI brushes off Alan Peter Cayetano's 'minion' remark; vows to continue 2019 SEA Games probe

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Sunday brushed off remarks made by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano who called NBI Director Melvin Matibag a cartoon character, vowing it will continue with its investigation of alleged corruption in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

In a statement, the NBI said it will not take “offense at the label, nor will it be answered in kind.”

“The Bureau’s work rests on evidence, on documents, and on the law — and none of these is moved by name-calling. The Director answers to no one’s interest but the public’s,” the NBI said.

“Director Matibag will continue to do the work the Filipino people expect of him. He may be called many things. Beholden will never be one of them,” it added.

In a Facebook Live broadcast earlier today, Cayetano referred to Matibag as a “minion,” a yellow, capsule-shaped race of humorous characters from the “Despicable Me” film franchise.

“Ang nangyayari po ngayon ay may mga mastermind talaga at may mga minions,” Cayetano said, showing off the said character printed on the t-shirt he was wearing in the video.

“Alam niyo naman ang pangalan ng mga minions, ‘di ba? Pero itong isa, ‘yang minion na yan, ang pangalan niyan ay Melvin. So, shout out sa iyo ngayong Sunday na ito, Melvin the minion,” he added.

EXPLAINER: Why is the NBI probing the 2019 SEA Games sports complex?

(What is happening now is that there are masterminds and minions. You already know the names of the minions, right? But this one, his name is Melvin. So, a shout-out to you this Sunday, Melvin the minion.)

Cayetano’s remarks came after Matibag said the NBI would investigate the alleged anomalies in the construction of facilities that were used during the 2019 athletics event.

Matibag had explained that the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee will be investigated as it was not liquidated or audited. He said PHISGOC received around P2 billion in government funds.

Cayetano, who chaired PHISGOC at the time, said the NBI director was trying to intimidate him ahead of the official's appearance before the Senate as a witness of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte next week.

The NBI clarified on Sunday’s statement that it is conducting an investigation because Filipinos are entitled to know where public funds go.

“Bllions in public funds appear to have been disbursed outside the ordinary safeguards of competitive bidding and government audit, and the Filipino people are entitled to know how their money was spent. That question stands regardless of who asks it or who is discomfited by it,” NBI said.

“The NBI’s inquiry is impartial, evidence-based, and grounded squarely in its mandate under the law. It presumes no one guilty and exempts no one from scrutiny. We invite anyone with knowledge of the matter — the Senator included — to bring their evidence to the Bureau, and not to a livestream,” it maintained. —RF, GMA News