The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be recommending charges against the five members of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) board of trustees—and is considering including Senator Alan Peter Cayetano among the possible respondents as the PHISGOC chair.

NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag made the announcement after taking statements from two witnesses concerning the alleged irregularities involving PHISGOC funds during the 2019 SEA Games, reported RH 15 Jecelle Ricafort on Monday.

The director described Cayetano acting as PHISGOC chair as “ultra vires,” or acting beyond his authority, as he was not a member of the board.

“He introduced himself as the chairman, so it’s an ultra vires act… siya ‘yung parang nagpapatakbo so posible na kasama siya,” Matibag told reporters.

He added that more individuals are being considered for a recommendation of charges in the following days after a key document resurfaced.

“Siguradong may makakasuhan, at siguradong mayroong pagkakamali. Nakita na namin, very important ‘yung kanina, nakausap namin na witness… Kasali na kaagad ‘yung sa board of trustees nitong PHISGOC... So we’re looking at the other personalities based nga doon sa katatapos ko lang na meeting at interview,” he said.

The bureau discovered that various contractors were involved in the ₱55 million caludron used during the SEA Games, Matibag said.

Earlier, the Investigation chief made it clear that the bureau’s investigation centers on the reportedly unliquidated funds that had gone into the 2019 SEA Games through the PHISGOC.

Aside from the multi-million cauldron, the bureau also learned that a number of travel agencies and athletes’ uniforms and allowances were not paid for. Moreover, the non-government organization allegedly received confidential funds.