Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday defended procurement processes tied to the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, pushing back against a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe into alleged anomalies and calling the claims a “misfire.”
Cayetano issued the remarks during the sixth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, after NBI Director Melvin Matibag disclosed plans to investigate reported irregularities in infrastructure projects linked to the regional sporting event.
“Go ahead if you wanna investigate. I just want to put on record, mukhang misfire,” Cayetano said, adding that the country’s procurement law allows for multiple modes of acquisition and should not automatically raise suspicion in the absence of public bidding.
He cautioned against drawing premature conclusions, emphasizing that not all government projects are required to undergo competitive bidding under existing rules.
The senator also denounced what he described as “Marites accusations” or unverified claims circulating about his alleged involvement in the controversy, warning that such accusations could undermine the credibility of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
“To be accepted by the Filipino people, we have to make sure the integrity is intact,” Cayetano said. “I will admit to you, nahihirapan pa ako. Wala si Senator Rodante Marcoleta eh.”
Matibag earlier said the NBI is examining alleged funding irregularities involving a sports complex in New Clark City, Tarlac, which was built for the 2019 SEA Games.
According to the NBI chief, the bureau received information pointing to billions of pesos in project funds that have yet to be liquidated.
Authorities are also looking into claims that a private firm received about ₱10 billion in payments without undergoing public bidding, allegedly through congressional insertions.
The investigation is separate from a renewed review of the controversial SEA Games cauldron, which previously drew public scrutiny for its cost.
The NBI formally launched its inquiry on July 15, focusing on infrastructure projects undertaken for the 2019 SEA Games as part of efforts to determine whether procurement and fund disbursement complied with government regulations.
