Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla vowed over the weekend to pursue the reopened investigation into alleged irregularities in the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), saying the dismissal of related complaints in 2021 does not bar a fresh review.

Remulla explained during a radio interview that the earlier dismissal did not trigger double jeopardy because no criminal case had been filed in court and no arraignment had taken place.

“That’s final only if it’s filed in the court and there’s an arraignment and there’s double jeopardy. Otherwise, we can still do something about it,” Remulla said.

Questions had been raised about SEA Games-related infrastructure projects in Clark that allegedly proceeded without competitive public bidding.

“We will look at the facts. That’s evidence,” Remulla said. “We will study it. Leave it to the Ombudsman. We have the best lawyers.”

The Ombudsman’s review comes as several government agencies revisit the 2019 SEA Games, where former Senate president Alan Peter Cayetano chaired the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee.

NBI probe

The National Bureau of Investigation has revived its probe after receiving what it described as new information involving billions of pesos in alleged unliquidated expenditures, procurement irregularities and the construction of several SEA Games facilities.

Cayetano complained about being “targeted” by the NBI, led by director Melvin Matibag, purportedly to pressure minority senators in relation to Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

The Department of Justice has defended the NBI’s investigation, saying it is carrying out its independent mandate to determine whether criminal liability exists.

Remulla also warned lawyers representing clients under investigation against fabricating evidence or concealing criminal liability.

“You defend your client, okay. But do not commit a crime while defending your client,” he said.

Indictment

He alleged that some lawyers had attempted to invent claims of “beneficial interest” to conceal ownership of properties under investigation.

“If you invent things about beneficial interest that are not true, we will catch you. We will also indict you,” he said.

Remulla did not identify any lawyer or indicate that the warning specifically referred to the SEA Games investigation.