Manila: Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that the anti-graft body will review a previous ruling related to infrastructure projects from the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosting. Remulla clarified that the reopening of the case does not involve double jeopardy, as the case had not been filed in the courts in 2021.
According to Philippines News Agency, discussions are ongoing about whether Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, former chair of the 2019 Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), will be summoned by the Office of the Ombudsman. Remulla noted, "There is a time for everything. We first need to study how our office came out with the resolution in 2021."
Criminal and administrative charges against former Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and current Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, among others, were previously dismissed due to insufficient evidence in a resolution from December 2021.
Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag stated that his office plans to issue subpoenas to Phisgoc officials, including Phisgoc chair Ramon "Tats" Suzara, Chief Financial Officer Dexter Estacio, and Corporate Secretary John Lester Buenconsejo. These subpoenas, set to be issued on Monday, require them to appear before the NBI on July 24.
The NBI's investigation has been triggered by new information and documents concerning the multibillion-peso allocations for projects managed by Phisgoc.
