NBI Launches Investigation Over Alleged ₱10-Billion Irregularities in 2019 SEA Games Sports Complex

Courtesy: PCO

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has officially formed a dedicated task force to investigate multi-billion-peso funding irregularities surrounding the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.

The state-of-the-art facility, constructed in 2018 and opened in 2019, served as the centerpiece venue for the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. However, the project is now under deep scrutiny after investigators discovered significant financial red flags.

Incidental Discovery at Academy Site

According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, the investigation was triggered "incidentally" during an official bureau visit to inspect a 70-hectare plot of land allocated for the construction of the future NBI Academy inside New Clark City.

"We have something to look at and investigate because when we got to the area, it turned out that billions of pesos had been poured into the project but remained unliquidated," Matibag told reporters.

He confirmed that the bureau has already secured crucial evidentiary documents to justify the probe and has mobilized both its Financial Investigation Unit and Special Action Unit to dissect the transactions.

Bypassed Bidding and 'GAA Insertions'

The NBI's investigation centers heavily on procurement and fund-release procedures involving the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and its private partner, Malaysian firm MTD Capital Berhad.

Initial findings suggest that a massive chunk of public money—totaling ₱10 billion—was paid out to the private contractor without undergoing the mandatory competitive public bidding process.

Furthermore, Matibag revealed that the multi-billion-peso funding was rapidly released through controversial congressional insertions within the General Appropriations Act (GAA). The NBI is looking into previous reports by the Commission on Audit (COA), which flagged the unsolicited joint venture arrangement for potentially giving undue advantage to the private developer.

Parallel Cauldron Review & Political Backlash

The bureau will also re-examine the controversial ₱50-million Olympic-style ceremonial cauldron used during the 2019 opening ceremonies, though Matibag clarified it remains a separate case.

The sudden announcement has already drawn friction in the Senate. Senator Pia Cayetano publicly questioned the timing of the announcement, raising concerns of potential pressure or intimidation. The 2019 games were organized by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), which was chaired by her brother, current Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Director Matibag firmly maintained that the investigation is completely "incidental" and not politically motivated. He noted that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is not currently identified as a specific subject of the probe, and added that the NBI will actively coordinate with the COA, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the BCDA to ensure a thorough review.