Malacañang on Thursday denied any attempt to intimidate or pressure opposition members, particularly senator-judges in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, amid concerns over the National Bureau of Investigation’s planned probe into alleged irregularities in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the NBI was simply carrying out its mandate to investigate reports of possible wrongdoing and did not need authorization from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to conduct its work.
Castro issued the statement after Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who served as chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) during the 2019 SEA Games, and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, questioned the timing of the NBI’s announcement.
The two senator-judges raised concerns that the planned investigation could be used to pressure members of the impeachment court.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag, who is set to appear as a prosecution witness in the impeachment trial, earlier announced that the bureau would look into alleged irregularities related to the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.
The probe would include reports involving around ₱10 billion in unliquidated funds, an alleged lack of competitive bidding for some projects, and the construction of the ₱50-million cauldron.
Castro said Matibag decided to pursue the inquiry after receiving information and reports regarding alleged irregularities.
She questioned whether the NBI chief should ignore such reports instead of investigating them.
“Hindi po ba dapat na imbestigahan, hindi dahil gusto niyang manira o makadiskaril ng isang tao; pangalawa, walang nabanggit si NBI Director kung sino ang kaniyang iimbestigahan (Shouldn’t an investigation be conducted—not out of a desire to destroy someone’s reputation or derail a person? Second, the NBI Director did not specify whom he intends to investigate),” Castro said.
She emphasized that the investigation concerns an issue dating back to 2019 and was not intended to target any individual.
Castro also said that those who have nothing to hide should not feel intimidated by an investigation.
“Hindi ito pang-i-intimidate, hindi ito panggigipit sa mga taong wala namang ginawang mali (It is not meant to intimidate or harass people who have done nothing wrong),” she said.
Dizon Cleared by Ombudsman
Meanwhile, Castro said Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, who was also linked to the controversy surrounding the 2019 SEA Games, had already been investigated and cleared by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2019.
Dizon was investigated in his capacity as then chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which oversaw several infrastructure projects related to the hosting of the regional sporting event.
Castro said Dizon’s case was different from Cayetano’s, noting that Dizon underwent a formal investigation and was cleared of any wrongdoing.
She added that Cayetano was not subjected to a formal investigation after then President Rodrigo Duterte publicly cleared him before any probe could be conducted.