Matibag says Pia Cayetano's remark ‘more frightening for me’

MANILA, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Thursday questioned Sen. Pia Cayetano’s statement that his announcement of probing alleged irregularities in building a sports complex in New Clark City, Tarlac, for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, is “possibly contemptible.”

Matibag said this remark of the senator-judge is “more frightening” for him, as he would stand as a witness before the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday, July 21.

Cayetano earlier argued that Matibag announced the investigation into the sports complex to try to “intimidate” and “distract” them, knowing that his brother, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, was chairperson of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) during that time.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Matibag: Probing 2019 SEAG complex nothing to do with Cayetano

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

In an interview on Thursday, Matibag noted that he did not “commit any violation” and that he has “full respect for the Senate impeachment court, including its members.”

“In fact, that is what is surprising, our judges have to exhibit impartiality—that is called neutrality and impartiality of a judge. Because there is nothing yet, they are issuing an indictment,” Matibag told reporters.

“It is more frightening for me as a witness because it seems like there is a threat of contempt for us,” he pointed out.

Matibag also said that the NBI is only doing its mandate to investigate, which he pointed out will not stop just because he will testify in a proceeding.

Article continues after this advertisement

“And first of all, we are not the accused in those proceedings. In those proceedings, I will only stand as a witness and based on the pretrial order, I will be a witness not only for the prosecution but also for the defense. So I don’t know where the claim that we are being intimidated or anything else comes from,” said Matibag.

Meanwhile, the NBI director said he will divulge before the Senate impeachment court the bureau’s findings, particularly on the issue of great threat and inciting to sedition, emphasizing that he will answer every question, even “tough” ones.

Article continues after this advertisement

During the sixth day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, Cayetano questioned if Matibag announced the investigation so that he would not be asked “tough questions” when he stands as a witness at the impeachment trial on Tuesday.

“I do not know. But those statements, those actions, are not acceptable, possibly contemptible,” she said.

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

Matibag on Wednesday said that the NBI already formed a task force to investigate the alleged irregularities in the sports complex.

The NBI director said this after noting during an ambush interview on Tuesday—which was the one played at the Senate—that they received information that around P10 billion was involved in the project without undergoing liquidation.

He said a Malaysian company built the complex used in the SEA Games, noting that “there was no bidding that took place, and the P10 billion was quickly paid through congressional insertion in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).”

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

The NBI director pointed out that the case is separate from the controversial cauldron in 2019’s SEA Games, which he said will be investigated again by the bureau. /mr