Cayetano may face charges over 2019 SEA Games irregularities

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is preparing to recommend charges to the Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning alleged irregularities at the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) during the 2019 SEA Games, with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano potentially named as a respondent, according to NBI Director statements.

The investigation centers on administrative and financial matters related to the hosting of the regional sporting event in Manila and nearby provinces. The exact nature of the alleged irregularities has not been fully detailed, but the NBI's recommendation to the DOJ suggests serious concerns about governance and resource management during the games organization.

Cayetano, who held a prominent role in the games organization, faces potential legal exposure pending the DOJ's review of the NBI's findings. The recommendation marks an escalation in scrutiny of how the 2019 SEA Games were managed and financed.

The DOJ will now evaluate the NBI's evidence and determine whether formal charges will be filed. This development comes amid broader accountability measures related to major government-organized events in the Philippines.