Matibag to Pulong Duterte: If you have evidence against my wife, file a complaint

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National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Friday maintained that the government investigation on alleged anomalous flood control projects does not target personalities.

Matibag made the statement in response to the statement of Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte where the Davao lamwaker called on Matibag to also probe flood control projects outside of Davao City, including that in the district of Matibag’s wife, First District Rep. Anne Matibag.

“He has to check his facts because actually, Davao is among the many na ito. Kita naman natin, marami na nga na nakakulong ngayon, na hindi naman sa Davao nanggaling. We have filed cases involving projects in Bulacan, Mindoro and there is an ongoing investigation in Pampanga, Tarlac, Cebu City,” Matibag told reporters at the sidelines of the plenary budget deliberations in the House of Representatives.

(Davao is just one of the many. We have seen that those in jail now were cases wherein the project was located outside of Davao. These projects were in Bulacan, Mindoro, among others.)

Matibag previously announced that the NBI has received documents regarding nearly 50 alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects in Davao City.

“So, Davao is one of the many. Lahat po ng merong ebidensya na dumarating sa amin, imbestigahan po namin,” Matibag said.

(Every evidence put forward to us are being investigated.)

Why is he reacting?

Matibag said that Duterte’s response is also puzzling, considering that the NBI did not issue a subpoena to him or any other lawmaker for that matter.

“Hindi naman siya namin iniimbitahan. Ang inimbitahan namin and sinubpoena namin is the Regional Director, District Engineers, at saka yung mga contractors. Wala naman yung pangalan niya doon, eh,” Matibag said.

(We did not invite him. The subpoena was for Regional Director, District Engineers and contractors. His name was not there.)

“I don’t know why he is reacting. If he has information, he can come to us and volunteer it,” Matibag added.

File a complaint

Matibag then said that the Davao lawmaker is free to file a complaint involving his wife if he has evidence of such allocation.

“On my wife, I’m sure my wife is capable enough to answer allegations. If he, indeed, has evidence against my wife, I encourage him, as a law-abiding citizen, as a member of the House of Representatives, to file a complaint,” Matibag said.

“Maybe not in the NBI because he might say I am unfair, but there are other government agencies he can go to,” Matibag added.

“On my wife, I’m sure my wife is capable enough to answer allegations. If he, indeed, has evidence against my wife, I encourage him, as a law-abiding citizen, as a member of the House of Representatives, to file a complaint,” Matibag said. —VAL, GMA News