NBI to subpoena former Phisgoc officials

NBI Director Melvin Matibag. INQUIRER / MARY JOY SALCEDO

The National Bureau of Investigation will subpoena former officials of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) over alleged irregularities that were committed when the country hosted the the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

In a video sent to reporters via Viber on Friday, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said among those who will be subpoenaed are: Ramon “Tats” Suzara (Phisgoc chair, 2019); Dexter Estacio (Phisgoc chief financial officer, 2019); and John Lester Buenconsejo, (Phisgoc corporate secretary, 2019).

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Matibag said the subpoenas requiring them to appear before the bureau on Friday, July 24, will be issued on Monday.

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The subpoenas, the NBI chief said, direct the former officials to provide oral testimonies and bring necessary documents.

The bureau has created a task force that will look into allegations of unliquidated funds amounting to about P10 billion, the lack of competitive bidding for some projects, and the construction of the controversial P50-million cauldron, among others.

Matibag earlier said the bureau will likewise investigate claims that Phiscog did not undergo proper auditing and liquidation.

Files reopened

The Office of the Ombudsman has also reopened its files pertaining to the case, said its chief Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday.

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“Just this morning, I asked my staff to get the whole file from 2021 to see and to look at violations of law,” Remulla said at a press conference. “We’re opening it up again.”

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who headed the SEA Games organizing body at the time, earlier accused Matibag of trying to intimidate him as a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

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Asked if the Ombudsman would interview Cayetano, Remulla replied: “There’s a time for everything.”

“We will study what the Office [of the Ombudsman] did in 2021 because there was no double jeopardy there since it was not filed [in the courts],” he added.

In December 2021, state prosecutors junked the graft complaint against Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon filed in the antigraft body in relation to this issue.

Dizon, who chaired the Bases Conversion and Development Authority at the time, oversaw much of the infrastructure for the 2019 SEA Games Complex in New Clark City (NCC).

Cayetano’s role

Matibag said the bureau would ask the former Phisgoc officials about the role of Cayetano in the foundation.

“It’s strange that when we mentioned that we would investigate this, why did Senator Cayetano react when his name wasn’t even there,” Matibag said.

“If there is ever an issue of corruption or any anomaly that comes up here, maybe he shouldn’t worry because he’s not [involved]. But there is a big question as to why he’s floating around in public as if he’s its chairman. So this is probably what needs to be answered,” he added.

Phisgoc was a privately formed foundation established in 2018 to serve as the main organizing body to manage the logistics, marketing, and operations for the 2019 SEA Games.

Controversies

It faced controversies on whether it was the rightful body to handle the country’s hosting of the Games.

In 2019, Suzara defended the foundation, saying it was incorporated in compliance with the rules of the International Olympic Committee.

He also cited Memorandum Circular No. 56, issued by then President Rodrigo Duterte and which directed all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations to extend their full support to the body.

In November 2020, Cayetano said Phisgoc “[was] open to investigation but we’re against witch hunts.”

He issued the statement after Sen. Risa Hontiveros called for a “full-blown” investigation into allegedly irregular deals, particularly the P9.5 billion used to construct the main sports venue inside NCC in Tarlac province.

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In December 2020, more than 13 months after the Games were held, the Commission on Audit said Phisgoc and the Philippine Olympic Committee had yet to liquidate P2.2 billion and P535 million, respectively, they received for the regional event.