Metro Manila, Philippines – The Cayetano senators – Alan Peter and Pia – leaving the country is not a concern for the ombudsman and some colleagues.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he believes the siblings will not prolong their stay in Singapore compared to the extended foreign trip of Sen. Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste.
“I don’t think [they] will follow the other path that Loren Legarda and her son took,” Remulla said.
Legarda and Leviste haven’t returned since August after a preliminary investigation was opened by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the multibillion-peso alleged anomalous solar power project of the younger lawmaker obtained through a questionable congressional franchise.
The Immigration Bureau said the Cayetanos have no hold departure order or derogatory record to prevent them from leaving.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is the subject of an NBI probe for alleged irregularities in hosting the 2019 SEA Games during his chairmanship in the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee.
He is also facing an ombudsman probe on alleged irregular flood control projects in Taguig City, the family’s support base.
‘Not an issue’
For Sen. Ping Lacson, the trip of the Cayetanos was not an issue at this time, noting that personal trips do not need travel authority from the Senate leadership. The senator has traded barbs with Alan Cayetano over alleged ghost flood control projects in Taguig City.
“This is not an issue as of the moment. Let’s make him take a break from the stress caused by issues that he himself created,” Lacson said.
“For all we know, Sen. Alan and his wife’s trip has something to do with reproductive health, which Singapore is known for. If it is simply health-related, I sincerely wish him well despite our animosities,” he added.
Senate President Win Gatchalian shares the view, adding that filing a leave isn’t a necessity among the senators should their trips indeed be personal.
“‘Pag personal trips, hindi na kailangan mag-abiso ang mga senador,” he said.
[Translation: When it comes to personal trips, senators do not need to notify the chamber.]
The Senate, sitting as Impeachment Court, is in the middle of a trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Four senator-judges have not attended the hearing, including Legarda of late; the three others are Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta who are detained on plunder charges, and Bato dela Rosa who is in hiding over an International Criminal Court arrest warrant in relation to the Duterte drug war case. That Cayetanos in Singapore would make the absences six should they skip the proceedings next week, leaving the court with only 18 senator-judges.
On Friday, NBI Director Melvin Matibag told reporters after a Senate hearing that he received information that the Cayetanos will return to the country this weekend.
“I have information that they will be coming back maybe tomorrow at 11 p.m., or Sunday at 11 p.m., SQ-918,” Matibag said, referring to a Singapore Airlines flight.
