Alan feels pressure over more probes

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is facing mounting pressure on several fronts as multiple investigations into alleged irregularities involving projects linked to him proceed simultaneously.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag said the agency expects to complete its probe into alleged anomalies in the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) within three to four weeks.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said complaints involving projects in Taguig City, Cayetano’s bailiwick, have already been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman. He added that a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry would present evidence related to five infrastructure projects in Taguig that are suspected to be tainted with corruption.

According to Matibag, “We are intending to wrap it up in three to four weeks lang kasi malinaw naman yung ebidensya (since the evidence is clear).”

The NBI launched a probe into an estimated P10 billion in unliquidated funds and alleged procurement anomalies during the 2019 SEAG after an inspection of the site for a new NBI Academy in New Clark City.

The probe covers projects related to the 2019 SEAG, including the New Clark City sports complex and the controversial SEAG cauldron.

NBI officials noticed the sports complex during their site visit to New Clark City and received reports of massive unliquidated expenditures, prompting the establishment of a specialized group composed of the Financial Investigation Unit and Special Action Unit to audit the fund flows.

Investigators are looking into whether a private foreign contractor built the complex using congressional budget insertions without a competitive public bidding.

The probe also covers the financial documentation and cost justification of the controversial P50-million Olympic-style cauldron utilized during the 2019 opening ceremonies.

The NBI has formally requested related audit reports and documents from the Commission on Audit and the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding past transactions with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee which Cayetano headed as chairman.

Matibag said the bureau is reviewing documents and other evidence related to the transactions to determine who may be held accountable.