The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced Sunday that it will start probing the involvement of Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano regarding the handling of funds for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed that subpoenas have already been served to at least seven individuals as part of the agency’s active probe.
”Some of them will appear on Monday, the others will appear on Tuesday,” Matibag said.
Matibag noted that Cayetano could be called in to answer questions if witness statements or documentary evidence require his testimony. He added that the subpoenas give the individuals enough lead time to comply with the directive to appear.
The investigation will center on the reported transfer of at least ₱6.7 billion in public funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to the private Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).
To lead the inquiry, the bureau created “Task Force Cash Cow”—a specialized team composed of investigators from the NBI Public Corruption Division, the Special Action Unit, the Office of the Director, and select field agents.
Reassuring the public that the inquiry will follow due process and rely strictly on facts, Matibag stated the task force will meticulously trace how the funds received by PHISGOC were spent.
The NBI is also partnering with the Commission on Audit (COA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to review PHISGOC’s corporate files, tax records, and financial statements.