Camille Naredo

The Athletics Stadium at the New Clark City on December 4, 2019, Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

The Athletics Stadium at the New Clark City on December 4, 2019, Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SEA GAMES

Zyann Ambrosio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178411218409220191204-sea-games-new-clark-city-MD--10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Athletics Stadium at the New Clark City on December 4, 2019, Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File"/>The Athletics Stadium at the New Clark City on December 4, 2019. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has created a special task force to investigate alleged irregularities involving infrastructure projects and transactions related to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau has already obtained documents that warrant a formal investigation, particularly involving the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).“We are in possession of documents already na meron talagang kailangang imbestigahan,” he said.Matibag said one of the issues being looked into is the alleged lack of public bidding involving Hong Kong Manila and questions over unliquidated funds.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/7/14/nbi-launches-probe-into-alleged-irregularities-in-2019-sea-games-infrastructure-projects-2232">NBI launches probe into alleged irregularities in 2019 SEA Games infrastructure projects</a></div>“If you recall, there was no bidding na ginawa dito… Tapos unliquidated. So marami na kailangang tingnan,” said Matibag.To handle the probe, the NBI has organized a task force composed of its Financial Investigation Unit and Special Action Unit, which will coordinate with the Commission on Audit (COA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).Matibag clarified that while no individuals have been formally identified as respondents, investigators have already begun identifying personalities who may be linked to the case.The NBI chief stressed that the investigation was prompted by newly submitted documents, not by politics or renewed public pressure over previous controversies involving the SEA Games.&quot;It so happened na may mga lumabas ngayong dokumento which will lead us to investigate,&quot; Matibag said.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/19/19/sea-games-cayetano-insists-nothing-anomalous-in-multi-million-peso-cauldron">SEA Games: Cayetano insists nothing anomalous in multi-million peso cauldron</a></div>He also explained that the discovery of the documents came after his recent visit to New Clark City, where BCDA donated 70 hectares for the future NBI Academy.“Pagkatapos ng pagbisita namin, may mga pumasok sa amin na documents and information that will lead us to come up with the investigation,” said Matibag.Asked about the possible involvement of former PHISGOC chairman Senator Allan Peter Cayetano, Matibag assured the public that the NBI will remain impartial.“We’ll always go where the evidence will lead us, kung ano ang batas, kung ano ang proseso. Kung kailangan natin siyang tanungin, we will respectfully ask him,” he said.The NBI said the investigation is still in its early stages and no conclusions have yet been reached.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has created a special task force to investigate alleged irregularities involving infrastructure projects and transactions related to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has created a special task force to investigate alleged irregularities involving infrastructure projects and transactions related to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

NBI creates task force to probe alleged irregularities in 2019 SEA Games

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NBI creates task force to probe alleged irregularities in 2019 SEA Games

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 15, 2026 06:46 PM PHT

Read More:

2019 SEA Games

Infrastructure projects

Melvin Matibag

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