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MANILA, Philippines – The controversies that hounded the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) are brought to the fore once again.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Wednesday, July 15, said the agency will investigate the country’s staging of the regional showpiece, whose organizing body was chaired by now Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, over alleged irregularities involving billions in government funds.
“This is not because of renewed interest. It so happened that there were documents which came to light which will lead us to investigate. Whenever any issue involving corruption is brought to us, even ordinary cases, we will investigate. It so happened this is controversial,” said Matibag in a mix of Filipino and English.
“Once and for all, we want to settle the matter by determining whether anyone should be held accountable or not.”
Cayetano has questioned the timing of the announcement of the investigation as it came just days before Matibag is set to testify on Tuesday, July 21, in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
SEA Games issues
Cayetano’s role as then-chairperson of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), a private foundation of sorts tasked to oversee the Philippines’ hosting of the biennial meet, raised concerns as he still held government posts at the time.
He was the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) when Phisgoc registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a “non-stock, non-profit corporation” in June 2018 and was the Speaker of the House of Representatives when the SEA Games was held from November to December 2019.
A Rappler report delved into the money trail that showed P6 billion worth of SEA Games funds followed Cayetano from his days as DFA chief to the Philippine Sports Commission, which disbursed the money to Phisgoc under a tripartite agreement that also involved the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The funds included the budget for the P50-million cauldron used for the SEA Games’ torch lighting, a scrutinized expense that Cayetano defended, saying the structure designed by late National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa and built outside the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, was a “work of art.”
Of the P6-billion fund, P1.5 billion was transferred to Phisgoc as “financial assistance” and did not undergo public bidding.
According to Matibag, the investigation will include the P10 billion given to a Malaysian company which he claimed was paid through insertions in the General Appropriations Act and was unliquidated.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) entered into an P11-billion joint venture agreement with Malaysian firm MTD Capital Berhad to build the sports facilities in New Clark City, which included an athletics stadium, aquatic center, and athletes’ village, for the SEA Games.
Despite its initial adverse opinion on the deal, the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel confirmed months later that the provisions of the executed joint venture agreement were “in compliance with existing laws, rules, and regulations.”
Matibag said complaints against Vince Dizon, BCDA’s former president and chief executive officer who now serves as the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, were dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Other mishaps marred the SEA Games, including unfinished sites at the start of the competition and issues concerning the transportation and accommodation of participating athletes.
The NBI, Matibag said, has formed a task force composed of a financial investigation unit and a special action unit that will investigate the matter in coordination with the SEC, BCDA, and Commission on Audit.
Former Phisgoc members Ramon “Tats” Suzara, Dexter Estacio, and John Lester Buenconsejo are set to be subpoenaed by the NBI, as revealed by Matibag on Friday, July 17.
Matibag said Suzara, and not Cayetano, was listed as Phisgoc’s chairman and president in documents acquired by the NBI from the SEC. Estacio and Buenconsejo held positions as chief financial officer and corporate secretary, respectively.
Why now?
Cayetano on Wednesday blasted Matibag for announcing the investigation, saying it was a way to intimidate him in his capacity as a senator-judge in the impeachment trial.
“The chilling effect is there. But am I intimidated? I have no choice. I’ll fight this. I’ll do what I have to do,” said Cayetano in a mix of Filipino and English.
“Go ahead and investigate. First of all, that’s been investigated many, many times.”
Cayetano maintained that there were no anomalies in the country’s staging of the SEA Games, and voiced his frustration that members of the minority are being targeted.
Minority block senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta have been arrested due to graft and plunder cases, while Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been in hiding after managing to evade an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
“Is it unfair to me and unfair to the court that just when he is about to be summoned, he tries to intimidate me? What, do you expect me not to question you on [Tuesday] just because you announced that you’re investigating me?” said Cayetano.
“They’re really taking us out. They’re going after us one by one.”
Cayetano’s sister and fellow senator, Pia Cayetano, backed her younger brother.
“I am bothered. There is no jurisdiction in the world that allows a judge to be pressured and intimidated. And I ask each one of you, my dear colleagues, are we going to allow this? Is this how things are now?” said the older Cayetano on Wednesday.
“Is he trying to intimidate us not to ask him tough questions when he is our resource person next week? I do not know. But those actions are not acceptable, possibly contemptible.”
Not a threat
On Thursday, July 16, Matibag responded to Cayetano, saying the senator has nothing to fear if he is indeed innocent.
Matibag also refuted claims that the investigation is a threat and said that the NBI is merely following its mandate.
“If no corruption was committed, then you have nothing to be afraid of. You’re only afraid if you have something to hide. Isn’t that right?” said Matibag.
Moreover, Matibag said the investigation has nothing to do with the impeachment trial, arguing that he has no knowledge as to how the senator-judges would be voting.
“I’ll answer all the questions they want to ask to the best of my ability,” said Matibag.
“How can you say there’s a chilling effect? Has there already been information on who would vote for acquittal or conviction? There’s none yet. By this time, would I be able to know if he would vote for conviction or acquittal?”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said it “respects” the authority of the NBI to conduct investigations.
“While the NBI is an attached agency of the Department, it is given sufficient operational independence to perform its investigative functions as it deems appropriate under the law,” said the DOJ. – Rappler.com
