The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has uncovered evidence of corruption involving the public funds allocated for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed.
Speaking in a television interview, Matibag stated that investigators have gathered sufficient documentation to establish solid findings regarding the misuse of public money.
“I think we have enough documents, sufficient documents to come out with a reasonable, logical and solid findings,” Matibag said. “There is really corruption. ’Yun ‘yung lumalabas.”
The bureau’s probe centers on approximately ₱3.7 billion transferred from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), a private entity. Investigators allege these funds bypassed mandatory government auditing and liquidation protocols.
Several figures have cooperated with the ongoing inquiry, including PSC Chair and former PHISGOC board member John Patrick Gregorio, who provided testimony and submitted relevant financial records.
However, Matibag noted that multiple former PHISGOC officials have ignored bureau subpoenas and failed to appear for questioning.
The NBI chief indicated that the gathered evidence strongly corroborates the initial corruption reports submitted to the agency.
“Hindi na kami nagulat kasi what was reported to us, ’yun din ‘yung nilalabas nu’ng dokumento,” Matibag added.