By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
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,” 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 P10 billion in congressional insertions, the lack of competitive bidding for certain projects, and the controversial P50 million cauldron.
Cayetano chaired the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee but 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?” 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,” she said.
She added that government agencies have an obligation to pursue complaints once information about possible irregularities is brought to their attention.
