SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, may be returning to the country this weekend, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said on Friday.
Matibag told reporters he received information that the siblings will arrive either Saturday night or Sunday night, after a vacation in Singapore.
The Cayetanos left the country on Wednesday. Accompanying them was Alan Peter’s wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.
The Singapore trip comes as the NBI deepens its probe into alleged irregularities surrounding the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and the possible involvement of Alan Peter Cayetano.
Matibag said he saw nothing improper in the Cayetanos’ departure, but its timing could fuel speculation.
“Of course, the public will have suspicions,” he said.
The NBI probe is focused on the P55-million cauldron built for the opening ceremonies of the SEA Games in New Clark City, Tarlac.
Cayetano was chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) at the time.
Critics claimed that the cauldron was overpriced.
Cayetano’s camp has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that Phisgoc’s spending went through proper procedures and that the organization delivered the country’s hosting obligations.
