FROM HOW IT looks, the Senate could possibly lose another member amid an investigation of a multi-billion fund mess which took place during the previous administration.
In an interview with newsmen, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag hinted at forming a special task force to investigate alleged anomalies in the bidding and funding of projects related to the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Matibag particularly cited “new information and documents” involving the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
When asked how much was involved, the NBI chief replied — “huge amount of money.”
“If you recall, ‘yung bidding na ginawa dito tapos unliquidated so marami ‘yan na kailangang tingnan. That’s why I’m creating a task force composed of our Financial Investigation Unit at saka ang aming Special Action Unit to investigate the matter,” he told reporters.
Matibag previously claimed that billions of pesos were spent on the SEA Games Sports Complex. He also alleged that a private company received P10 billion through “congressional insertions.”
The NBI would also examine the P50-million 2019 SEA Games cauldron project even as Matibag hinted at coordinating with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commission on Audit (COA), and other agencies as part of the investigation.
When asked to provide details on the personalities who would be investigated, Matibag declined — “As we speak, wala pa naman tayong sasabihin na na-identify but there are already personalities na nakikita natin.”
He however mentioned the name of Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano who served as chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
“I’m always respectful to everybody, especially to the members of the Senate. It so happened siguro na si Senator Cayetano ay involved dito, at tayo naman, ang record ng NBI, we’ll always go where the evidence leads us.”
