By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday defended the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) planned probe into alleged anomalies involving infrastructure projects for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, saying the investigation is part of the agency’s mandate and should not be viewed as an attempt to intimidate senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the NBI is duty-bound to investigate reports of possible corruption regardless of timing or personalities involved.
“Mandato naman po ng pamunuan ng NBI na mag-imbestiga kung mayroon po silang naririnig, nalalaman na anomalya. Hindi po kailangang utusan ng Pangulo (It is the mandate of the NBI leadership to investigate whenever they receive information about possible anomalies. The President does not need to order it),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
Castro dismissed claims by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano that the probe was intended to pressure senator-judges handling Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Cayetano earlier claimed the NBI’s planned investigation was intended to intimidate him as a senator-judge, following NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s announcement that the bureau would examine alleged anomalies involving the 2019 SEA Games Sports Complex, including reported PHP10 billion in congressional insertions, the lack of competitive bidding for certain projects, and the controversial PHP50 million cauldron.
Cayetano chaired the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee but has maintained he had no involvement in the infrastructure projects.
According to Castro, Matibag was informed of alleged irregularities in the construction of facilities for the 2019 SEA Games, prompting the bureau to look into the matter.
“Bilang isang namumuno sa NBI, kapag may narinig na ganoon, ano ba ang dapat gawin? Isawalang-bahala? Tulugan? Ignore o imbestigahan (As head of the NBI, what should he do upon hearing such information? Ignore it? Sleep on it? Or investigate)?” she said.
Castro also rejected suggestions that an investigation alone constitutes intimidation, adding that those who did nothing wrong should not feel harassed by the planned investigation.
“Ang tao na wala namang dapat katakutan ay hindi nai-intimidate. Ang pag-iimbestiga na gagawin ay dahil mayroon namang talagang isyu noong 2019. Hindi ito panggigipit sa mga taong wala namang ginawang mali (Those who have nothing to fear should not feel intimidated. Investigating issues surrounding the 2019 SEA Games is not harassment of people who have done nothing wrong),” she said.
She added that government agencies have an obligation to pursue complaints once information about possible irregularities is brought to their attention. (PNA)
