Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Drones fly overhead during the SEA Games closing ceremonies at the athletics stadium in Clark on December 11, 2019. Czar Dancel, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Zyann Ambrosio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17848013096431784801309374.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Drones fly overhead during the SEA Games closing ceremonies at the athletics stadium in Clark on December 11, 2019. Czar Dancel, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has formed &quot;Task Force Cash Cow&quot; to investigate the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), bureau director Melvin Matibag said Thursday.The task force was created to investigate alleged irregularities in infrastructure projects in the Philippines&#x27; hosting of the Southeast Asian Games in 2019.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/17/nbi-to-subpoena-officials-over-2019-sea-games-probe-1544">NBI to subpoena officials over 2019 SEA Games probe </a></div>Matibag said the task force will include &quot;the Public Corruption Division, Special Action Unit and, of course, the Office of the Director and the field officers.&quot;Matibag said initial documents obtained by the NBI indicate that about P6.7 billion in government funds from the Department of Budget and Management, Philippine Sports Commission, and Philippine Olympic Committee were transferred to PHISGOC, a private organization.He said the NBI has written the Commission on Audit, Securities and Exchange Commission and Bureau of Internal Revenue to validate the initial findings.&quot;We&#x27;ll also ask the POC and PSC on this matter,&quot; the NBI chief said.He added that investigators are expanding the financial review to include other funds that went to PHISGOC.&quot;That&#x27;s why we&#x27;ll be checking [Bureau of Internal Revenue] records, seeking the assistance of the COA and the SEC. They have to submit audited financial statements because they&#x27;re registered under SEC laws,&quot; he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/wrap-speeches-slamming-sea-games-probe-nearly-upstage-oral-arguments-0016">Speeches slamming SEA Games probe nearly upstage oral argument </a></div>The NBI director said the amount under scrutiny could exceed P10 billion once private-sector funds are included.The NBI has also issued subpoenas to several individuals, including members of the PHISGOC Board of Directors.&quot;Right now, we issued subpoenas to about seven individuals. Some of them will appear on Monday, while others will appear on Tuesday,&quot; Matibag said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has formed "Task Force Cash Cow" to investigate the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), bureau director Melvin Matibag said Thursday.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has formed "Task Force Cash Cow" to investigate the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), bureau director Melvin Matibag said Thursday.

NBI task force starts probe into 2019 SEA Games deals

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NBI task force starts probe into 2019 SEA Games deals

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 23, 2026 06:18 PM PHT

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Updated July 23, 2026 07:15 PM PHT

Read More:

National Bureau of Investigation

Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee

Southeast Asian Games

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