Marilyn Cahatol

The Athletics Stadium in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac at night during the 2019 SEA Games. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

New Clark City @ Night

Adrian Ayalin

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178417974119820191208-new-clark-city-night-6453-MD.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Athletics Stadium in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac at night during the 2019 SEA Games. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) — The Department of Justice stood by the National Bureau of Investigation as it looked into alleged anomalies involving infrastructure projects undertaken for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.</p><p>Sen. Pia Cayetano on Wednesday said the probe was meant to intimidate her brother Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who served chairperson of the Organizing Committee for the 2019 SEA Games, and distract him fromVice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/wrap-speeches-slamming-sea-games-probe-nearly-upstage-oral-arguments-0016">WRAP: Speeches slamming SEA Games probe nearly upstage oral arguments</a></div><p>The DOJ said it “fully respects” the views expressed by Senator Pia and assured her and the public that the NBI was grounded in its mandate and the rule of law.</p><p>“The Department has full confidence that the NBI will continue to carry out its work with the professionalism, integrity, and independence expected of it,” the DOJ said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VR7xsrzZpm8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Sen. Alan Peter asserted that he had nothing to do with the infrastructure projects which included the infamous cauldron, dubbed as “kaldero” by critics.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/19/19/sea-games-cayetano-insists-nothing-anomalous-in-multi-million-peso-cauldron">SEA Games: Cayetano insists nothing anomalous in multi-million peso cauldron</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/-binabawasan-talaga-kami-iniisa-isa-cayetano-says-2019-sea-games-probe-aims-to-intimidate-him-1433">‘Binabawasan talaga kami, iniisa-isa’: Cayetano says 2019 SEA Games probe aims to ‘intimidate’ him</a></div><p>The DOJ also stated that it respects the mandate and authority of the NBI which can conduct investigations either upon referral or motu proprio.</p><p>“While the NBI is an attached agency of the Department, it is given sufficient operational independence to perform its investigative functions as it deems appropriate under the law,” the DOJ said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Cayetano: Probe 2019 SEA Games alongside flood control scandal </strong></div><p>Cayetano on Thursday, meanwhile, called for a resumption of the flood control scandal probe alongside the investigation on the 2019 SEA Games that Cayetano organized. </p><p>&quot;So ito, ito proposal natin sa NBI, sa Malacanang, at saka sa DOJ. Imbestigahan niyo yung Southeast Asian Games of 2019, kung saan tayo nag-overall champion at tiningala ng buong Southeast Asia, imbestigahan niyo ng husto, bigay nyo lahat. We will support totally. Pag sinabi kong we, ako, at hinihimok ko lahat ng mga mamamayan [na] suportahan yung imbestigasyon na yan.&quot;</p><p> &quot;Tapos, ako naman, sampu ng aming mga kasama na ngayon ay nasa minority, imbestigahan naman namin ang flood control. Ano? Deal? So, madali lang yan, Malacanang, kasi sumusunod naman sa inyo sila Senator Erwin, sila Senator Lacson, yung mga nasa Blue Ribbon. Kalabitin niyo na. Total, 30 weeks. Matagal po itong impeachment.&quot;</p><p> &quot;At sabi nga, huwag panay technicalities. Eh lalo po ang Blue Ribbon Committee, wala masyadong technicalities doon. So, huwag po tayo mangamba sa kahit anong imbestigasyon. Salamat po sa lahat ng nagpaparating ng suporta, lalo po yung prayers. Pagkatapos sabihin na incidental lang na yung building, biglang pinawalang sala na ang mga kakampi nila. Tapos sinabi ng DOJ, tama yung imbestigasyon na yan.&quot;</p><p>Cayetano said Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon had already been investigated regarding the same issue Matibag wants to probe. </p><p>&quot;Tapos ang Malacanang, si ano daw, naimbestigahan na daw yung secretary nila pero ako daw, hindi pa. Okay lang, imbestigahan natin lahat. Pero hindi naman siguro bad words ang flood control. Ang bad words ay cover up. So, tamang-tama, magso-SONA na ulit. Bigyan natin ng pwedeng pag-usapan ang mahal nating Pangulo, na tunay na mga pangyayari.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gF9vHpHlr_A?si=qPDXlrqT4c6kOExK" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Department of Justice stood by the National Bureau of Investigation which is conducting an investigation on alleged anomalies involving infrastructure projects undertaken for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.</p>

The Department of Justice stood by the National Bureau of Investigation which is conducting an investigation on alleged anomalies involving infrastructure projects undertaken for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

DOJ says NBI to probe SEA Games infra 'with professionalism, integrity'

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DOJ says NBI to probe SEA Games infra 'with professionalism, integrity'

Adrian Ayalin,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 16, 2026 01:39 PM PHT

|

Updated July 16, 2026 05:37 PM PHT

Read More:

kaldero

DOJ

NBI

SEA Games

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