Senator-judges should not fear handling the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte if they have nothing to hide amid the investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the alleged multi-million-peso unliquidated 2019 SEA Games budget.

This was according to Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, saying that those with “nothing to fear under the rule of law have nothing to worry about.”

The NBI has said it is investigating alleged irregularities in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and claims of supposed “ghost” flood control projects in Taguig City.

Vida dismissed concerns that the NBI probe could distract senator-judges, saying that in the pursuit of accountability, they are not stopping.

He said everybody has their own task, and they respect the senator-judges.

According to the DOJ chief, criminal investigations and the Senate’s impeachment proceedings serve different functions and can proceed simultaneously.

Senator-judges should not be alarmed as long as the rule of law is observed, he said.

Vida said no one should worry, as they are following the rule of law, and the probe will be based on the evidence and investigation the NBI is conducting.

The NBI conducts its investigations independently, and any case eventually referred to the Department of Justice would be evaluated solely on the basis of the evidence gathered by investigators.

Currently, the NBI is investigating alleged anomalies involving the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEA Games and has also begun looking into Senator Panfilo Lacson’s allegation of supposed “ghost” flood control projects in Taguig.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has denied any wrongdoing and has maintained that repeated inspections found no ghost projects in the city.