DOJ defends NBI on cauldron probe: Investigation done with integrity

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday came to the defense of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in reviving the alleged corruption in the P50-million cauldron built for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

“The Department has full confidence that the NBI will continue to carry out its work with the professionalism, integrity, and independence expected of it,” DOJ said in a statement.

This was in reaction to accusations made by siblings Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Pia Cayetano that the NBI move to look into the infrastructure projects in New Clark City, Tarlac province, seven years later, was intended to “intimidate” them as senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

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The DOJ said it respects the mandate and authority of the NBI, one of its attached agencies, to initiate investigations, whether by referral or motu proprio, or on its own.

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READ: Pia Cayetano: NBI’s SEA Games probe meant to ‘intimidate, distract us’

Matibag said that the plan to investigate the matter was triggered by a new set of evidence the NBI received indicating that some P10 billion had been spent without being accounted for.

Alan chaired the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), a private foundation that was formed to take over the hosting duties in the SEA Games in 2019. Matibag, meanwhile, is slated to appear as a witness for the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial next week.

In criticizing Matibag’s move to revive the issue, Alan denied any involvement, saying that it was implemented by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), and not Phisgoc.

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READ: Cayetano-Matibag spat revives ‘kaldero’ issue

Pia, in her manifestation on the sixth day of the impeachment trial, questioned Matibag’s intention and said that it was “not acceptable, and possibly contemptible.”

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“The Department fully respects the views expressed by (Pia). We assure her and the public that the actions of the National Bureau of Investigation are grounded solely in its mandate and the rule of law,” it said. /jpv

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