Cayetano urges protection of impeachment court’s integrity amid NBI SEA Games probe

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July 15, 2026

4–6 minutes

Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said the integrity of the impeachment court must be protected as he raised the timing of the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) announcement of its probe into the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

His remarks came after fellow senator-judge Robinhood Padilla raised concerns over the timing of the NBI’s announcement, which came days after Cayetano questioned NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s request to reschedule his impeachment testimony because of an overseas seminar.

While stressing that the NBI was free to investigate any issue, Cayetano said public officials should ensure that their actions do not undermine confidence in the impeachment proceedings.

“Go ahead and investigate [but] we have to make sure that the integrity of the court is intact,” Cayetano said on July 15, 2026

“I hope this issue of the integrity of the court becomes an issue to all of us,” he added.

He said he had no objection to any investigation, noting that the SEA Games had already been examined several times, including before the Office of the Ombudsman where he personally appeared to answer questions.

However, Cayetano described the NBI’s latest announcement as a “misfire,” saying it wrongly linked him to infrastructure projects that were outside the scope of his responsibilities as chair of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).

He explained that the infrastructure projects cited by the NBI were undertaken by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), not the organizing committee he chaired.

He also said the absence of public bidding did not automatically mean anomalies had been committed because the procurement law allows alternative modes of procurement.

Cayetano also defended the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEA Games, saying the event brought honor to the Philippines and served as a milestone for many Filipino athletes.

“Paninindigan ko po na napakaganda nung nangyari roon. At kung may anomalya, ako [ang] unang magagalit,” he said.

Cayetano maintained that his earlier remarks about Matibag were not personal but were prompted by the director’s request to reschedule to an earlier date his appearance before the impeachment court despite the significance of the proceedings.

He questioned the public announcement of the investigation just as the NBI director was set to appear before the Senate.

“But isn’t it unfair to me and unfair to the court that kung kailan siya patatawag sa Monday, i-intimidate mo ako? [Para ba] hindi kita tatanungin sa Monday dahil mag-a-announce ka na iimbestigahan mo [ang SEA Games]?,” he said.

Cayetano said he would continue carrying out his constitutional duty as a senator-judge regardless of who was facing impeachment and reiterated that while the NBI was free to investigate any matter, it should avoid actions that could affect the credibility of the impeachment court.

“Ilalaban ko ito, gagawin ko ang dapat kong gawin, bumaliktad man y’ung sitwasyon,” he said.
“I’ll repeat what I said when I was Senate President. Director [Matibag,] hindi mo kami natibag so ‘wag mo i-try tibagin ‘tong representation na ‘to o itong impeachment court, because what you’re doing is not helping,” he added.

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