Senator Pia Cayetano denies hiding, claims to support Padel team in Singapore

Senator Pia Cayetano on Friday denied she was trying to evade scrutiny, explaining that she had traveled to Singapore to support the Philippine Padel National Team ahead of the Asian Games.

Cayetano addressed questions about her whereabouts after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed Thursday that she and her brother, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, had left the country.

The two senators were reportedly seen at an airport several days ago, prompting questions over the reason for their departure.

“Itong Singapore, sinadya kong pumunta because this is the tune-up game before the Asian Games,” Pia Cayetano said during a Facebook Live.

She also rejected suggestions that she was deliberately staying out of sight.

“Daming nagtatanong kung nasaan daw ako, parang naman nakikipag-taguan ako. Hindi ako nakikipagtaguan, wala akong tinataguan, wala akong reason na magtago, yung gumagawa ng mga kwento, tingin niyo ba na tama yung gagawa ng kwento?” she added.

The senators’ departure came as government agencies pursue separate investigations involving matters linked to their political activities.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking into alleged irregularities surrounding the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which Alan Cayetano headed as chairman of the organizing committee.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman is conducting an investigation which are examining documents and other evidence submitted by Sen. Panfilo Lacson concerning Taguig City’s reclamation project in Laguna Lake.