Senate President Win Gatchalian clarified Thursday, September 9, that senators traveling abroad for personal reasons are not required to obtain authorization from the Senate.
Gatchalian issued the statement following confirmation from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Pia Cayetano had departed the country.
“Pag personal trips, hindi naman kailangang magpaalam sa Senado,” Gatchalian told reporters.
He explained that lawmakers are only obligated to secure a travel authority or approval when traveling on official business.
“Kung kailangan ng travel authority, kung may invitation, lalo na kung may budget na ilalabas ang Senado. For example, Senado magbabayad ng hotels, tickets, yung staff, kailangan merong official notice,” he said.
Addressing questions on whether Alan Peter Cayetano would return prior to the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, Gatchalian noted he had not yet spoken with the minority leader.
“Hindi pa kami nag-uusap. The last time kami nagkita nung may session. Nag-uusap kami about certain bills. But yun lang,” he added.
The BI’s statement came after photos circulated on social media depicting the Cayetano siblings at an airport, reportedly awaiting a Singapore Airlines flight on Wednesday evening. Additional online reports claimed that Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Alan Peter’s wife, also departed for Singapore early Thursday.
The Bureau of Immigration confirmed that neither Alan Peter nor Pia Cayetano had existing hold-departure orders or derogatory records at the time of their departure.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation previously indicated that Alan Peter Cayetano could be named among the respondents in charges linked to alleged irregularities during the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where he chaired the organizing committee.
Additionally, the Office of the Ombudsman is pursuing a fact-finding inquiry into alleged systemic irregularities in flood control and infrastructure projects in Taguig City, long considered the Cayetano family’s political stronghold.