Malacañang on Thursday stood by the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) inquiry into the alleged irregularities surrounding the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, saying the agency is merely carrying out its mandate and is not using the probe to pressure anyone.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified it on Thursday after Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that the planned investigation was intended to intimidate members of the Senate impeachment court.

Castro further dismissed the allegation, saying tt should not be viewed as a threat by those who have committed no wrongdoing, adding that, “A person who has nothing to fear is never intimidated. This is not meant to intimidate people who have done nothing wrong."

She also stressed that the NBI does not need any directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. before investigating alleged anomalies, as it is the bureau's mandate to investigate a matter if it is brought to its attention.  

Meanwhile, the NBI earlier announced that it had obtained new information and documents concerning the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), which handled the country's hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.

Authorities are currently looking into allegations that billions of pesos were spent on the SEA Games Sports Complex, including an issue that a private company received P10 billion through it.

Furthermore, investigators are set to examine the controversial P50 million cauldron project built for the regional sporting event.