The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has requested documents from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities and financial anomalies linked to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
In a letter addressed to COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba, NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag requested a certified true copy of the commission’s audit report on the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), particularly those involving the 2019 SEA Games and PHISGOC.
Matibag said the documents are necessary to validate the bureau’s findings and trace the flow of funds used for the hosting of the regional sporting event.
The NBI chief said the request forms part of the bureau’s investigation into alleged irregularities, financial anomalies, and possible violations of anti-graft, corruption, and other related laws.
The NBI also sought records from the SEC regarding PHISGOC Foundation Inc., covering the period from 2017 to 2026. The requested documents include the organization’s Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, Audited Financial Statements, General Information Sheet, Beneficial Ownership Declaration, and Board Resolution on the sale or transfer of non-current assets.
The investigation is being handled by the NBI’s newly created Task Force Cash Cow, which was formed to look into the operations and financial transactions of PHISGOC, previously headed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as interim chairman.
PHISGOC reportedly received around ₱6.7 billion in funding from the PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the preparation and staging of the 2019 SEA Games, which the Philippines hosted in November 2019.
