NBI to look into alleged irregularities in P10 B sports complex in New Clark City
Probe includes the controversial cauldron
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag speaks during the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) 'Balitaan' forum on Tuesday, May 19, at Harbor View Restaurant in Ermita, Manila, (Photo courtesy of Diann Calucin/MANILA BULLETIN)
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will look into the alleged irregularities in the construction of P10 billion sports facility that was built at the New Clark City in Tarlac for the Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
NBI director Melvin Matibag said they got hold of the information of a possible hocus pocus on the payment system while they were attending to the needed requirements for the building of agency structure in the area.
The NBI was given a large portion of the land at the New Clark City for the construction of an academy for its future agents and personnel.
“We received information that billions of pesos were involved but were unliquidated,” said Matibag.
According to the initial information they received, Matibag said a Malaysian company was tapped to build the sports facilities at Clark in preparation of the Philippine hosting of the SEA Games in 2019.
“There was a private company that was paid P10 billion and the payment was done through congressional insertions at the GAA (General Appropriations Act),” said Matibag.
He said there was no bidding conducted and that the private company was immediately paid.
“We will investigate this, this is also a big case,” he added.
The NBI chief, however, clarified that the case is separate from the controversy involving the controversial multi-million peso worth of cauldron that was used in the same sports event.
The cauldron, worth P50 million, was used in torch-lighting ceremony but was questioned by some lawmakers before due to its high cost.
The investigation is ongoing but Matibag said they will include the controversial cauldron in its probe.
“The cauldron is a separate case but we will also look into it,” said Matibag.