Malacañang has rejected claims made by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano that the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) inquiry into the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games infrastructure projects is a deliberate strategy to pressure senator-judges in the active impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The executive branch held its ground, asserting that individuals who have done nothing wrong have no reason to feel threatened.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro defended the NBI’s initiative, explaining that the bureau is merely executing its statutory duties after receiving reports of potential anomalies in the construction of the sports venues.
“Mandato naman po ng pamunuan ng NBI na mag-imbestiga kung mayroon po silang naririnig, nalalaman na anomalya. Hindi po kailangang utusan ng Pangulo,” Castro stated during a press briefing.
Castro explained that the investigation was triggered by information presented to NBI Director Melvin Matibag during a routine visit to New Clark City.
She challenged critics regarding the alternative to a formal inquiry, asking,
“Bilang isang namumuno sa NBI, kapag may narinig na ganoon, ano ba ang dapat gawin? Isawalang-bahala? Tulugan? Ignore o imbestigahan?”
The NBI recently uncovered fresh evidence and records relating to the 2019 SEA Games Sports Complex. Investigators are zeroing in on an alleged ₱10 billion in congressional insertions, the absence of competitive bidding for particular phases of construction, and the controversial ₱50-million sports cauldron.
Cayetano, who previously headed the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), has strongly denied participating in the infrastructure side of the developments.
He argues that the NBI timed its announcement specifically to sway his stance as a judge in the ongoing impeachment trial.
In response, the Palace suggested that reacting aggressively to a standard investigation could inadvertently imply guilt.
“Ang tao na wala namang dapat katakutan ay hindi nai-intimidate,” Castro remarked.
She further stressed that launching an official investigation should not be interpreted as a form of harassment.
“Kapag kasi ganoon ang mga pananaw, mapag-iisipan kasi na kayo ba’y guilty? Kung wala namang dapat katakutan, hindi kailangang ma-intimidate. Hindi kailangan magalit sa anumang pag-iimbestiga,” she added.