Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Thursday that Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s trip abroad should not be turned into an issue, saying the senator deserves a break from the pressures surrounding him.
Lacson also wished Cayetano and his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, well after reports surfaced that the couple had traveled overseas for health-related reasons.
“This is not an issue as of the moment. Let’s make him (them) take a break from the stress caused by issues that he himself created,” Lacson posted on social media.
He also raised the possibility that the couple’s trip could be related to reproductive health services, noting Singapore’s reputation in the field.
“For all we know, (Cayetano) 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.
Photos circulating online on Wednesday night showed Cayetano at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, where he was reportedly seen waiting to board a Singapore Airlines flight.
His overseas trip came as reports emerged that he could potentially face charges following the National Bureau of Investigation’s probe into alleged irregularities surrounding the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Cayetano headed the country’s preparations for the regional sporting event as chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee.
The senator and Lacson have also traded pointed remarks amid allegations of corruption.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman is separately investigating alleged systemic irregularities involving flood control projects in Taguig, a city widely regarded as Cayetano’s political base.