No double jeopardy: Ombudsman reopens file on 2019 SEA Games 'anomalies'

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said the anti-graft body reopened the files pertaining to the alleged irregularities in the infrastructure used in the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

“Just this morning, I asked my staff to get the whole file from 2021 to see and to look at violations of law,” Remulla said in a press conference. “We’re opening it up again.”

READ: Ombudsman: 2019 SEA Games raps vs. Dizon junked for lack of evidence

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This issue resurfaced after National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag announced that the bureau would investigate alleged anomalies involving the SEA Games including about P10 billion in unliquidated funds, the lack of competitive bidding for some projects, and the controversial P50-million cauldron.

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Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who headed the SEA Games organizing body at that time, accused Matibag of trying to intimidate him as a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Asked if the Ombudsman would interview Cayetano on their probe, Remulla said: “There’s a time for everything.”

“We will study what the Office [of the Ombudsman] did in 2021 because there was no double jeopardy there since it was not filed [in the courts],” he also said.

In December 2021, state prosecutors junked the graft complaint against Public Works chief Vince Dizon filed in the anti-graft body in relation to this issue.

Dizon, who chaired the Bases Conversion and Development Authority at the time, oversaw much of the infrastructure for the 2019 SEA Games Complex in New Clark City. /jpv

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