MANILA, Philippines — Senator Pia Cayetano has broken her silence on speculation surrounding her sudden trip abroad, saying she is in Singapore not to hide from anyone but to cheer for the Philippine national padel team competing in a major international tournament.
In a social media livestream, Cayetano addressed growing questions about her whereabouts after the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that she and her brother, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, had both left the Philippines.
According to Cayetano, her Singapore trip had been planned long before the recent public speculation.
“I heard a lot of people are looking for me,” Cayetano said in Filipino during her livestream, brushing off suggestions that she had gone into hiding.
The senator explained that she traveled to Singapore to support Filipino athletes competing in the Asia Pacific Padel Tour Love All Grand Slam Platinum Singapore 2026. Cayetano is closely associated with the growing sport of padel in the Philippines and has been actively involved in efforts to develop Filipino athletes in international competition.
She also showed members of the Philippine team during her livestream and reiterated her support for Filipino players competing overseas.
Pia Cayetano: “I Have Nothing to Hide”
Cayetano strongly rejected speculation that her trip was connected to legal or political concerns.
She said there was no reason for her to hide and criticized what she described as malicious attempts to turn her personal travel into a controversy.
Her statement came after the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that both Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano were outside the Philippines. The BI said there were no hold departure orders or derogatory records that would have legally prevented either senator from leaving the country at the time of their departure.
The agency, however, declined to release specific details about their travel, including their itinerary, citing privacy rules.
Reports from multiple Philippine news outlets said the Cayetano siblings’ departure drew public attention because it came amid intense scrutiny involving political figures and ongoing government investigations.
Why Did the Trip Trigger Speculation?
Questions surrounding the siblings’ travel intensified after reports surfaced that Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano had both departed the country around the same period.
GMA News and other outlets reported that the Bureau of Immigration confirmed their departure and emphasized that the trip was legal because no hold departure order or other legal restriction was in place.
Philstar also reported that National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag said authorities expected the Cayetano siblings to return to the Philippines over the weekend, adding that there was no legal problem with their travel.
While Pia Cayetano directly explained her reason for being in Singapore, she did not elaborate on her brother’s travel plans in her livestream.
That unanswered question has kept public attention focused on the siblings’ overseas trip.
A Longtime Advocate for Sports and Filipino Athletes
Cayetano’s involvement in sports is not new.
Aside from her work as a senator, she has long been involved in sports development and has advocated for programs that support Filipino athletes and encourage physical activity.
Padel, a rapidly growing racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, has gained increasing attention in the Philippines and across Asia. Cayetano has been among the prominent figures helping promote the sport and supporting Philippine athletes competing internationally.
Previous reports have also identified Cayetano as a key figure in Padel Pilipinas and Philippine padel development, reflecting her continuing involvement in building the country’s presence in the sport.
For Cayetano, the Singapore trip was meant to be about sports and national pride.
But because of the timing of her departure — and the simultaneous travel of her brother — what was described as a planned trip to support Team Philippines quickly became a national talking point.
The Bottom Line
Pia Cayetano insists she is not hiding.
Her explanation is clear: she is in Singapore to support the Philippine national padel team at an international competition.
Immigration authorities have confirmed that her travel was legal and that no hold departure order prevented her from leaving the Philippines. The NBI has also indicated that the Cayetano siblings were expected to return over the weekend.
Still, one question continues to fuel public interest: while Pia Cayetano has explained why she went to Singapore, the broader circumstances surrounding the Cayetano siblings’ simultaneous departure remain under intense public scrutiny.
And as Pia returns her attention to Filipino athletes competing on the international stage, the questions surrounding the trip may not disappear just yet.
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