NBI Dir. Melvin Matibag/ Photo courtesy of PNA.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has created a special task force to investigate the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee over the handling of funds for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Task Force Cash Cow was formed to look into the committee’s finances alongside the bureau’s ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities involving the New Clark City sports complex.
The task force is composed of personnel from the NBI’s Public Corruption Division, Special Action Unit, Office of the Director and field offices.
Matibag said initial findings showed that Phisgoc received about Php 6.7 billion in government funds from the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Department of Budget and Management.
He added that the committee’s total funds could have exceeded Php 10 billion after including contributions from private entities.
The NBI plans to seek records from the Commission on Audit, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to verify financial documents and other submissions related to the organization.
Former Phisgoc officials who were subpoenaed by the bureau are now scheduled to appear on Monday and Tuesday after the NBI moved their original appearance date to allow them more time to comply.
Matibag also said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano could be summoned if testimony from former Phisgoc officials links him to the investigation. The bureau is also seeking to determine why his name was reportedly absent from Phisgoc’s board records despite his statement that he chaired the committee that organized the 2019 SEA Games.
