Manila, July 16 -- Malacanang on Thursday defended the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) planned probe into alleged anomalies involving infrastructure projects for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, saying the investigation is part of the agency's mandate and should not be viewed as an attempt to intimidate senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the NBI is duty-bound to investigate reports of possible corruption regardless of timing or personalities involved.

"Mandato naman po ng pamunuan ng NBI na mag-imbestiga kung mayroon po silang naririnig, nalalaman na anomalya. Hindi po kailangang utusan ng Pangulo (It is the mandate of the NBI leadership to inves...