Pia Cayetano defends Singapore trip, says she's supporting PH national Padel team

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Pia Cayetano on Friday clapped back at rumors surrounding her flight to Singapore, saying that she is there to support the Philippine National Padel team. Her response came after her and her brother, Senate Minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano, departure out of the country on Wednesday evening drew flak from the public. READ: BI confirms Cayetano siblings traveled out of the country She emphasized that she had nothing to hide and criticized those who, she said, were creating narratives about her absence. “I have no reason to hide. As for those making up stories — do you think that’s right? Fabricating stories about someone like me who is simply serving and doing my job,” she said in a Facebook live video. The senator then said that her trip to Singapore was scheduled and planned way before to support the national team at the Asia Pacific’s Padel Tour. “SSo we are with our national team, our National Padel team. I came to Singapore to support our national team. That was scheduled for a long time and I was even considering playing,” she said. She did not disclose whether her brother’s visit was similar to hers or for different reasons. The Cayetano siblings are scheduled to return to the country either Saturday or Sunday evening, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). During an ambush interview, NBI Director Melvin Matibag flagged the timing of their flight, primarily amid its investigation into alleged irregularities in the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee’s (Phisgoc) hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The NBI previously said that the Senate minority leader may face charges, alongside other Phisgoc officials. /das