Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has ordered a fresh review of the alleged irregularities in the construction of sports facilities for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, five years after a complaint related to the project was dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence.
Remulla said he had directed his staff to retrieve the records of the 2021 case to determine whether there were possible violations of the law.
“Just this morning, I asked my staff to get the whole file for 2021 to see and to look at the possible violations of law,” Remulla said.
“We’re opening it up again,” he added.
The complaint previously involved Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, who was then president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the agency that oversaw the development of New Clark City, where several SEA Games venues were built.
Remulla’s statement came after National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag announced on Tuesday that the bureau would also investigate the alleged anomalies surrounding the construction of the sports facilities.
Matibag’s remarks prompted a response from Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who accused the NBI chief of attempting to intimidate him ahead of Matibag’s scheduled appearance before the Senate impeachment court next week.
Cayetano served as chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) during the 2019 SEA Games, where the Philippines finished as overall champion.
Asked whether Cayetano would be included in the investigation, Remulla said it was too early to say.
“There’s a time for everything,” he said.
He added that his office would first review how the case was handled in 2021 before determining the next steps.
“Basta’t pag-aaralan muna namin ‘yung ginawa nung office dati noong 2021. Kasi walang double jeopardy ‘yan, wala namang charge doon,” Remulla said.
