MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said he supports the National Bureau of Investigation’s probe into alleged procurement irregularities in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, provided lawmakers are also allowed to investigate alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
In a Facebook livestream, Cayetano urged the NBI, Malacañang and the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation into the 2019 SEA Games, which the Philippines hosted and where it finished as overall champion.
“We will support you totally,” Cayetano said, adding that he and fellow minority senators would, in turn, pursue an investigation into flood control projects.
He also called on Malacañang to have the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, continue its inquiry into alleged flood control anomalies.
The NBI recently announced it was investigating procurement activities related to the 2019 SEA Games, whose organizing committee was headed by Cayetano.
Cayetano previously described the timing of the NBI probe as an attempt to intimidate the Senate impeachment court, noting that NBI Director Melvin Matibag is scheduled to testify as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Malacañang has denied the allegation, saying the investigation into the SEA Games is not intended to influence the impeachment proceedings.
