The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday defended the timing of the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) probe into alleged irregularities involving the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, saying the bureau's actions are guided solely by its legal mandate and the rule of law.

Justice Undersecretary and DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez said the department respects concerns raised by Sen. Pia Cayetano, who suggested the investigation could be intended to intimidate or distract minority senators from carrying out their duties as senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

"The Department fully respects the views expressed by Senator Pia S. Cayetano," Martinez said.

"We assure her and the public that the actions of the National Bureau of Investigation are grounded solely in its mandate and the rule of law," he added.

Martinez said the DOJ remains confident that the NBI will carry out its investigative functions with "the professionalism, integrity, and independence expected of it."

Earlier, the NBI disclosed that it had launched an inquiry into alleged anomalies involving projects related to the country's hosting of the 2019 SEA Games, including the New Clark City sports complex and the controversial SEA Games cauldron.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said investigators are looking into reports involving around P10 billion in allegedly unliquidated government funds and claims that portions of the projects proceeded without public bidding.

The timing of the investigation became an issue during the Senate impeachment proceedings after Sen. Robin Padilla questioned the probe. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who chaired the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee in 2019, responded by telling the NBI to "go ahead and investigate."

Matibag has said that no individual, including Cayetano, has been identified as a subject of the investigation.