BI: No Reason to Stop Cayetanos from Leaving Country

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano boarded a flight to Singapore on Wednesday, arriving at Changi Airport hours later. The BI stated that there were no hold departure orders or derogatory records against the two senators as of their departure date that would legally prevent them from leaving the country. BI did not immediately confirm if Cayetano’s wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, also left the country on Wednesday night, a fact confirmed by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian the next day. According to Gatchalian, while he does not know the reason for the Cayetanos' departure, he sees nothing wrong with it, as senators do not need to seek permission from the chamber to travel for personal reasons. He clarified that only senators traveling on official business need permission from the Senate, such as when the Senate is covering expenses like hotels, tickets, and staff costs. Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III stated the same, explaining in a separate message that “senators are not compelled to ask permission to leave the country.” This contrasts with government employees, who must apply for a travel authority from their office for personal trips and present it to immigration agents before departure. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also said it was acceptable for the Cayetanos to go on a personal trip, particularly for “health reasons.” “I think it’s a personal trip. I think it’s for health reasons. I wish them well. That’s okay, there’s no problem with that,” he told reporters. In a social media post, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who has been engaged in a public dispute with Alan Peter Cayetano over alleged irregularities in flood control and reclamation projects in Taguig City, called his departure a non-issue. “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. He added that he wished his colleague well, despite their differences, stating, “[I]f it is simply health-related, I sincerely wish him well despite our animosities.” Alan Peter Cayetano is currently being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as well as the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with alleged irregularities in the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where he served as chair of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee. Lacson and his office have also formally submitted to the Ombudsman at least 45 case studies backed by official documents detailing “systemic anomalies” in flood control infrastructure projects in Taguig City, the political bailiwick of the Cayetanos. The Ombudsman has since launched a fact-finding investigation into the reported irregularities. In June, it also ordered Alan Peter Cayetano to respond to a complaint for obstruction of justice for supposedly helping Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa go back into hiding. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo