NBI Probes 'Double Payment' for SEA Games Cauldron, Suspects Overpricing

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has claimed that the P55-million cauldron used in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games was possibly overpriced after discovering evidence of a “double payment” during its construction. NBI Director Melvin Matibag revealed that two additional witnesses came forward last Monday with documents that would strengthen the bureau’s planned criminal case against listed officials of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC). The NBI chief noted that the controversial cauldron should have cost only P30 million instead of P55 million. “We saw that there’s a double payment,” Matibag told radio dzBB on Tuesday. He explained that payments for certain companies were logged twice in an undisclosed document. Since the NBI needs to check the new documents, the filing of complaints against PHISGOC officials is delayed until next week. Matibag earlier said the bureau has collected documents and testimonies to file multiple criminal charges against the PHISGOC board. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano introduced himself then as PHISGOC chairman, but his name was not listed in any of its corporate documents. The committee, formed specifically for the conduct of the 30th SEA Games, continues to earn money to this day by sponsoring international sports events, according to Matibag. This development highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and financial management in the hosting of major sporting events in the Philippines. Similar allegations have surfaced in the past, drawing public scrutiny over the use of public funds.