(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano are out of the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed, but the agency declined to disclose where the siblings went or provide details of their trips.
The BI on Thursday said its records showed that neither senator was subject to a hold departure order (HDO) or had a derogatory record that would have legally barred them from leaving the Philippines.
But beyond confirming their departure, the immigration bureau offered few details.
It did not disclose when the senators left, their destination, the purpose of their trips or when they were expected to return.
The BI said it could not release such information because of its obligations under the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
"In compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, the Bureau cannot disclose specific details regarding their travel, including their itinerary or other related information," the BI, through Deputy Spokesman Malvin Mabulac, said.
The development leaves questions about the senators’ current whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding their travel, particularly as both remain sitting members of the Senate.
The BI, however, made clear that there was no immigration restriction preventing either senator from leaving the country at the time of their departure.
An HDO is a legal mechanism that prevents a person from departing the Philippines when issued by a competent court or authorized government agency under applicable rules.
The absence of an HDO or derogatory record means there was no such immigration-based impediment against the Cayetanos when they departed.
The BI’s statement also underscores the distinction between confirming a person’s departure and releasing private travel information.
While the agency may confirm immigration records when legally appropriate, it said specific itinerary and related travel information are protected by privacy rules.
Let Cayetano take a break
Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said he saw no issue "as of the moment" on Cayetano's trip, saying he should be allowed to take a break from the stress he himself created.
In a social media post, Lacson sincerely wished Cayetano well despite their differences, especially if Cayetano and his wife are traveling for health-related reasons.
"This is not an issue as of the moment. Let’s make him (them) take a break from the stress caused by issues that he himself created," Lacson said, apparently referring to the anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig City.
"For all we know, Sen Alan and his wife’s trip has something to do with reproductive health, which Singapore is known for. If it is simply health related, I sincerely wish him well despite our animosities," he added.
The Senate minority chief is being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with alleged irregularities in the Philippines' hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
At that time, Cayetano was chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc).
Lacson and his office submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman at least 45 case studies backed by official documents detailing “systemic anomalies” in flood control infrastructure projects in Taguig City, Cayetano's bailiwick.
The Office of the Ombudsman has also confirmed that it has launched a fact-finding investigation into the allegations involving the projects in Taguig City.
