Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano are back in the Philippines after a brief trip to Singapore that drew public attention amid ongoing investigations involving alleged irregularities in government projects.

The siblings arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Saturday night, September 12, after leaving Manila for Singapore on September 9.

Their departure had sparked discussion because it came as authorities continued looking into allegations involving infrastructure projects in Taguig City and issues related to the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Authorities, however, had earlier stressed that there was no legal impediment preventing either senator from leaving the country.

The Bureau of Immigration confirmed that there were no hold departure orders or derogatory records against the senators at the time they left the Philippines. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian also said senators are not required to seek Senate approval for personal trips abroad.

Following his return, Alan Peter Cayetano defended the trip as a short personal break and again pushed back against allegations linking him and his family to questionable infrastructure projects in Taguig.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson has previously said that information and evidence involving alleged anomalous projects in Taguig had been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman. Cayetano has denied wrongdoing and accused Lacson of unfairly targeting him and his family. The Ombudsman is looking into the allegations.

The National Bureau of Investigation has also been examining allegations connected to the organization of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier said investigators had encountered difficulty directly linking Cayetano to alleged irregularities because of the available documentary trail.

Pia Cayetano, meanwhile, said her Singapore trip was connected to supporting the Philippine National Padel Team as it prepared for the Asian Games in Japan.

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