Matibag: Cayetano may face raps over 2019 SEA Games irregularities

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano may be included as a respondent in the charges that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will recommend to the Department of Justice (DOJ) over alleged irregularities in the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc)’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, according to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.

Matibag said this in an interview on Monday after announcing that the bureau is set to recommend filing cases against five members of the Phisgoc board of trustees, among others, in the coming days.

“He [Cayetano] introduced himself as the chairman. So it’s an ultra vires act. Pinakilala niyang chairman siya na parang nagpapatakbo. So posible na kasama siya,” Matibag said when asked if the senator would also be included in the case recommendation.

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(He [Cayetano] introduced himself as the chairman. So it’s an ultra vires act. He introduced himself as the chairman as if he were running (Phisgoc). So it is possible that he will be included.)

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The NBI director, meanwhile, did not specify what charges might be recommended against Cayetano and the Phisgoc officials.

READ: NBI forms ‘Task Force Cash Cow,’ probes Phisgoc’s P6.7B funding

According to Matibag, he met with two witnesses this Monday, noting that their testimonies regarding the supposed irregularities involving Phisgoc during the 2019 SEA Games strengthened the case.

He also said the bureau discovered that the P55-million SEA Games cauldron was contracted to different contractors.

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“Siguradong may makakasuhan at siguradong may pagkakamali. Nakita na namin, very important ’yung kanina nakausap namin na witness,” said Matibag.

(Someone will definitely be charged, and definitely, there was an irregularity. We have seen it; the witness we spoke to earlier is very important.)

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“Mas lalong dumami pa ’yung mga dokumento. I think we will need a few additional days this week para matapos namin,” he also said.

(The documents are piling up. I think we will need a few additional days this week to finish them.)

The Inquirer reached out to Cayetano about the matter but has yet to issue a statement as of press time.

READ: Cayetano-Matibag spat revives ‘kaldero’ issue

Matibag earlier said that based on their initial findings, Phisgoc received around P6.7 billion in government funds, specifically from the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Department of Budget and Management for the 2019 SEA Games.

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He noted that if adding the other funds Phisgoc accepted from the private sector, the committee’s budget may reach over P10 billion. /cb