MANILA, Philippines — Senator Pia Cayetano has broken her silence over questions surrounding her whereabouts, insisting that she is not hiding and is in Singapore for a long-planned trip to support the Philippine Padel National Team.
In a live social media video, Cayetano addressed reports and online speculation about her departure from the Philippines, saying she was surprised that her location had become a major topic of discussion.
“Balita ko, dami naghahanap sa akin ah?” Cayetano said, questioning why so much attention was being given to her overseas trip.
According to Cayetano, she traveled to Singapore to support the Philippine national padel team during its preparations and tune-up activities. Reports said the trip had been scheduled well in advance and was connected to the team’s sporting commitments.
Pia Cayetano: ‘Hindi Ako Nagtatago’
The senator strongly rejected any suggestion that she had left the country to avoid an issue or investigation.
Cayetano criticized what she described as malicious speculation, saying she had no reason to hide and questioning why her personal travel had suddenly become a major news story.
Her remarks came after the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that both Pia Cayetano and her brother, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, had left the Philippines.
The immigration bureau said there were no hold departure orders or derogatory records against either senator at the time of their departure that would have legally prevented them from traveling abroad. The bureau, however, declined to disclose specific details of their itinerary, citing privacy rules.
Why the Cayetanos’ Overseas Trip Drew Attention
The timing of the siblings’ departure triggered public interest because both senators have recently been linked to separate political controversies and investigations.
Alan Peter Cayetano has faced renewed scrutiny over issues involving the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, while recent political disputes have also drawn attention to infrastructure and reclamation-related issues involving Taguig.
ABS-CBN has reported on the continuing exchanges between Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Panfilo Lacson over allegations and questions involving Taguig infrastructure projects.
However, the Bureau of Immigration’s confirmation that the Cayetano siblings were permitted to leave is significant: authorities said there was no legal travel restriction in place against them at the time they departed.
Singapore Trip Focused on Philippine Sports
For Pia Cayetano, the trip also highlighted her long-standing involvement in sports development.
Cayetano has been a prominent advocate of Philippine athletics and has been publicly associated with efforts to promote padel and support Filipino athletes competing internationally. A Senate record from 2025 identified her as a key sports advocate and referred to her involvement with the country’s growing padel community.
In her latest explanation, Cayetano maintained that her Singapore visit was about supporting Filipino athletes—not avoiding public scrutiny.
The senator’s response appears aimed at putting an end to speculation surrounding her trip, but with the Cayetano family continuing to face intense public and political attention in the Philippines, questions over their movements and activities are likely to remain under the spotlight.
For now, Pia Cayetano’s message is clear: she says she is not in hiding—and she wants the public to know exactly why she is in Singapore.
Leave a Reply