Malacañang has rejected claims that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)'s planned investigation into alleged anomalies in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is meant to intimidate senator-judges handling Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, saying the agency is only performing its mandate to investigate possible corruption.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement after Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano questioned the timing of the planned probe, arguing that it was intended to pressure members of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.

In a press briefing on Thursday, July 16, Castro said the NBI, like other law enforcement agencies, does not need instructions from President Marcos to investigate reports of wrongdoing.

"Hindi po kailangang utusan ng Pangulo, mandato po 'yan ng NBI, ng CIDG, ng PNP—trabaho po nila 'yan (The President does not need to order it because that is the mandate of the NBI, the CIDG, and the PNP—that is their job),” she said.

Castro said NBI Director Melvin Matibag decided to look into the matter after alleged irregularities in the 2019 SEA Games were brought to his attention during a meeting in New Clark City, where the bureau plans to establish its NBI Academy.

The Palace Press Officer questioned why the mere conduct of an investigation should be viewed as intimidation, saying authorities have a duty to investigate reported anomalies rather than ignore them.

"Walang nabanggit si NBI Director kung sino ang kaniyang iimbestigahan... Ang tao na wala namang dapat katakutan ay hindi nai-intimidate kahit kailan (The NBI Director did not mention whom he intends to investigate... A person who has nothing to fear is never intimidated),” she said.

“Hindi po ito pang-i-intimidate, hindi ito panggigipit sa mga taong wala namang ginawang mali (This is not meant to intimidate or harass people who have done nothing wrong),” she added.

Castro also dismissed suggestions that the timing of the planned investigation was politically motivated amid the public exchange between Matibag and former Senate President Cayetano.

She said Matibag had already explained that the issue surfaced only because he was asked during an ambush interview about the cases and investigations currently being handled by the NBI.

According to Castro, discussions on the alleged SEA Games anomalies began during a June 15 meeting in New Clark City and had nothing to do with the ongoing political dispute.

The planned investigation stems from longstanding questions surrounding the country's hosting of the 2019 SEA Games, which was marred by reports of logistical problems and allegations involving billions of pesos in unliquidated funds, procurement issues, and the controversial P50-million SEA Games cauldron at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium.

The cauldron, designed by National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa, became the most visible symbol of the controversy after lawmakers questioned its cost during congressional budget hearings, although officials involved in the project maintained that the amount covered not only the structure itself but also its foundation and related engineering works.

Asked about Alan Cayetano's statement that current Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, then president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), could also be questioned, Castro said Malacañang would not interfere should investigators decide to summon anyone.

"Sa atin pong pagkakaalam naimbestigahan po si Secretary Vince Dizon noong mga panahon na iyon... siya po ay napawalang-sala (To our knowledge, Secretary Vince Dizon was investigated at that time... and he was cleared),” she said.

She added that records showed Dizon had already been investigated and exonerated over the SEA Games issue, while adding that, to the Palace's knowledge, Alan Cayetano, who was then House speaker, was never investigated because former president Rodrigo Duterte had already publicly cleared him before any formal investigation had begun.