Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman will review its previous ruling dismissing charges linked to infrastructure projects built for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
Remulla said the review will examine how the anti-graft body reached its 2021 resolution, which dismissed criminal and administrative charges filed against former Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and current Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon and other respondents.
“There is a time for everything. We first need to study how our office came out with the resolution in 2021,” Remulla said on Friday.
He said the possible reopening of the case would not violate the constitutional protection against double jeopardy since the charges were not filed before the courts in 2021.
The Ombudsman dismissed the complaints against Dizon and other respondents due to insufficiency of evidence in a resolution issued in December 2021.
Remulla said it remains premature to determine whether the Ombudsman would summon Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who served as chair of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) during the 2019 regional sporting event.
The development came after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) launched its own inquiry into alleged irregularities involving the SEAG infrastructure projects.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier said the bureau received new information and documents concerning multibillion-peso allocations for projects undertaken by Phisgoc.
Matibag said the NBI would issue subpoenas to Phisgoc officials as part of its investigation.
Among those expected to receive subpoenas are Phisgoc chair Ramon “Tats” Suzara, Chief Financial Officer Dexter Estacio, and Corporate Secretary John Lester Buenconsejo.
The officials are expected to appear before the NBI on July 24.
The NBI probe covers allegations involving the construction of facilities for the 2019 SEA Games, including concerns over project allocations and procurement-related matters.
Cayetano, who chaired Phisgoc, has previously maintained that he had no involvement in the infrastructure projects.
Photo courtesy of Philippine Star
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