NBI asks docs from COA, SEC over SEA Games, Phisgoc probe

NBI Director Melvin Matibag. INQUIRER / MARY JOY SALCEDO MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag has written to the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to request documents amid the bureau’s ongoing investigation into the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) and the alleged irregularities in the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. In separate letters dated July 21 and shared with the NBI media on Friday, Matibag asked COA chair Gamaliel Cordoba for one certified true copy of the final audit report covering the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) relative to the 2019 SEA Games and Phisgoc. MATIBAG WRITES TO COA, SEC OVER SEA GAMES, PHISGOC PROBEREAD: NBI Director Melvin Matibag writes to the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amid the bureau’s ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in the country’s hosting of the ++ pic.twitter.com/fPwoagzj1z— MJ Salcedo (@MJSalcedoINQ) July 24, 2026 Matibag explained in the letter that the bureau is currently conducting a formal investigation “into alleged irregularities, financial anomalies, and possible violations of anti-graft, corruption, and related laws involving funds, disbursements, and procurement activities” linked to the 2019 SEA Games and Phisgoc, including transactions with the PSC. Article continues after this advertisement “This document is essential to verify findings, establish facts, and trace fund flows in the course of our official investigation,” Matibag told Cordoba. Meanwhile, citing Article III, Paragraph 2 of the Data Sharing Agreement between the NBI and the SEC, Matibag asked SEC Chair Francis Lim for certain documents pertaining to Phisgoc covering the period from 2017 up to the present. READ: NBI forms ‘Task Force Cash Cow,’ probes Phisgoc’s P6.7B gov’t funding The documents that the NBI director asked for from the SEC are as follows: Certificate of Incorporation (COl); Articles of Incorporation (AOl); By-Laws (BL); Audited Financial Statement (AFS); General Information Sheet (GIS); Beneficial Ownership Declaration (BOD); and Board Resolution on sale/transfer of non-current assets. On Thursday, Matibag said the NBI has already formed “Task Force Cash Cow” to investigate Phisgoc. Article continues after this advertisement He said this after noting that based on their initial findings, the Phisgoc received around P6.7 billion in government funds, specifically from the PSC, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the Department of Budget and Management for the 2019 SEA Games. The NBI director said that if adding the other funds Phisgoc accepted from the private sector, the committee’s budget may reach over P10 billion. Article continues after this advertisement Around seven former Phisgoc officials subpoenaed by the NBI are expected to appear before the bureau on Monday and Tuesday. READ: Matibag: Cayetano may be subpoenaed in 2019 SEA Games probe The former officials who were subpoenaed include: Ramon “Tats” Suzara — Phisgoc chair Dexter Estacio — Phisgoc chief financial officer John Lester Buenconsejo — Phisgoc corporate secretary Matibag recently said that Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano would also be subpoenaed should the former Phisgoc officials implicate him during their questioning, noting that based on a document the bureau received, the senator was appointed interim chair by the POC, with instructions “to immediately incorporate the Phisgoc.” Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. He also said the NBI will verify why Cayetano’s name was not listed on the board of directors even though he recently declared that he served as Phisgoc chairperson. /jpv