The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has announced that it will subpoena key members of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) for its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in the bidding and funding processes for the 2019 SEA Games.

NBI chief Melvin Matibag revealed that Ramon Suzara, Dexter Estacio, and John Lester Buencosejo will be compelled to appear before the bureau on Friday.The investigation was launched after the NBI received new information and documents related to PHISGOC's activities.Matibag emphasized that the subpoena is part of a broader effort to address discrepancies in the funding and management of the SEA Games projects.

The probe has drawn attention from political figures, including Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who has criticized the investigation as a tactic to intimidate him during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Cayetano's sister, Senator Pia Cayetano, also expressed skepticism about the probe's legitimacy, arguing that his name does not appear in the official records.

The NBI's actions highlight the growing scrutiny over the financial and administrative aspects of large-scale international events in the Philippines.