The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) may directly refer to the Office of the Ombudsman its complaint involving alleged anomalies in the handling of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said Friday.

According to a report by RH Jecelle Ricafort, Matibag said the bureau could also initially refer the matter to the Department of Justice for a separate investigation.

He said the ongoing probe is increasingly pointing to possible anomalies in the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee’s handling of the sporting event.

Matibag said some of the cases that the NBI plans to file have already reached the threshold of a reasonable certainty of conviction.

“Ang basehan natin prima facie evidence, pasok na eh. Yung ibang kaso sa reasonable certainty of conviction pasok na rin,” said Matibag.

The NBI will also reissue subpoenas to the PHISGOC board of trustees after the lawyer they previously contacted failed to get back to the bureau.

Matibag further noted Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who could potentially face charges, will not be among those being subpoenaed.

The NBI director also said the ongoing investigation found that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. released funds to PHISGOC.

He added that the nongovernment organization continues to hold functions and sponsor international events.

Matibag earlier said official records from the Securities and Exchange Commission identified Ramon Suzara as PHISGOC chairman for the 2019 SEA Games, not Cayetano.

The NBI director described Cayetano’s alleged act of presenting himself as chairman as “ultra vires,” noting that he was not a member of the PHISGOC board.