Following the announcement by NBI Director Melvin Matibag of an investigation regarding the alleged anomalies in the 2019 SEA Games, Senator-judges Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, and Robinhood Padilla expressed dismay over the matter.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said that if Matibag wants to investigate, then he should go ahead. However, he stressed that Matibag shouldn’t have to involve the organizing committee, of which he was the chairman.. Cayetano also believes that no anomaly happened at that moment.

“If they want to investigate, go ahead; but by mentioning the organizing committee of the SEA Games, ako po chairman non, at paninindigan ko po na napakaganda nung nangyari doon at kung may anomalya, ako unang magagalit,” he said

“In fact, I had to resign from the DFA because I was running for congressman during that time. So, don sa sinasabi ni Director Matibag na may congressional insertion to fund it, it's definitely not me. Because how could a non-member of the Senate or a non-member of the House insert anything?” he said

Cayetano also believes that it was just a marites accusation.

“So that's the same thing he announced yesterday, a marites accusation towards me that affects this court because I am now a senator judge,” he said

He also believes that this could be an attempt to allegedly chip away the number of sitting senators.

“Binabawasan talaga kami, iniisa-isa, even yung mga vlogger na malapit sa administrasyon, sabi, “two down, three down, may kasunod na”, diba?” he said

Senator-judge Robinhood Padilla also questions the complaints against the Senators.

“Hindi ko po alam kung ito ba ay eksakto lang na nangyayari o ito po ba ay sinasadya katulad po ng pagkakakulong ng ating dalawang Senator-judge na si Senator Jinggoy Estrada at si Senator Rodante Marcoleta,” he said

Senator-judge Pia Cayetano also expressed dismay over the SEA Games allegations and questioned the alleged intimidation of Matibag to the Senator-judges, as he is one of the witnesses to stand in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“As Senator Allan said, he could do it quietly. Go ahead. Pero anong purpose niya, nagyayabang siya? What's the purpose? Is he trying to intimidate us, not to ask him tough questions when he is our resource person next week? I do not know. But those statements, those actions are not acceptable, possibly contemptable,” she said