Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday proposed what he called an “exchange deal” with the administration: let the National Bureau of Investigation pursue its probe into alleged anomalies in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games while allowing the Senate minority to revive its stalled investigation into the questionable flood control projects.

The Philippines hosted the 2019 SEA Games under the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, which Cayetano chaired upon his appointment by then President Rodrigo Duterte.

Cayetano said the multibillion-peso sports project could withstand the scrutiny of the NBI’s revived investigation, which NBI Director Melvin Matibag said stemmed from information that billions of pesos in public funds had yet to be properly liquidated.

“This is our proposal to the NBI, Malacañang, and the Department of Justice: Investigate the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where we emerged as overall champions and were looked up to by the entire Southeast Asia region. We will fully support that,” Cayetano said in Filipino in a Facebook Live broadcast.

“Then my colleagues and I in the minority will investigate flood control. What do you think? Deal?” he said.

Cayetano said Malacañang could immediately allow Sen. Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, and the majority bloc to resume hearings on the flood control scandal even while the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is underway.

Political ends

Cayetano and his allies in the Senate minority have described the NBI investigation as politically motivated and intended to intimidate the senators aligned with the Vice President.

The NBI chief said the inquiry was prompted by information involving about P10 billion in the SEA Games sports complex project and was not driven by personal motives.

Matibag also alleged the project bypassed public bidding requirements and that funding was secured through congressional insertions.

Cayetano and Matibag have traded public barbs since the NBI’s failed attempt to arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa inside the Senate on 11 May based on an International Criminal Court warrant.

Speaking during the impeachment trial on Wednesday, Cayetano accused the administration of orchestrating the NBI investigation.

Insertions denied

He disputed Matibag’s claim that P10 billion in congressional insertions funded the project, saying he was not a member of Congress at the time.

The 2019 SEA Games drew criticism over its P50-million cauldron, which critics described as overpriced. Cayetano again denied profiting from the project.

He also questioned Malacañang’s defense of Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon.

“Malacañang says its secretary has already been investigated, but my case is still under investigation? Fine. Let’s investigate everyone. But ‘flood control’ isn’t a bad word. ‘Cover-up’ is,” Cayetano said.

Before joining the Marcos Cabinet, Dizon served as president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority from 2016 to 2021, overseeing the development of the New Clark City sports complex, one of the main venues for the 2019 SEA Games.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee last tackled the flood control issue on 8 June. Tulfo has said the investigation remains open.