Sherwin Gatchalian on Cayetanos' trip: No need to notify if it's personal

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday said senators who wish to travel abroad for personal purposes need not to seek permission to leave the country.

This came as the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Pia Cayetano have gone abroad.

“‘Pag personal trips, hindi na kailangan mag-abiso ang mga senador,” Gatchalian said.

(Senators do not need to notify the Senate for personal trips.)

Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III echoed this, saying that “senators are not compelled to ask permission to leave the country.”

Gatchalian said he does not know why the Cayetanos traveled abroad, as it was a personal trip. He also said they were not required to file a leave of absence.

He clarified that only senators traveling on official business need permission from the Senate.

“For example, Senado magbabayad ng hotels, tickets, ‘yung staff. Kailangan merong official notice ’yan dito sa Senado,” Gatchalian said in an ambush interview.

(For example, if the Senate is paying for hotels, tickets, and staff expenses, there must be an official notice filed with the Senate.)

The BI did not discuss specific details regarding the travel of the Cayetano siblings.

However, based on records, the BI said “there were no hold departure orders or derogatory records against the two senators, as of departure date, that would legally prevent them from leaving the country.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, said that the Cayetanos’ trip abroad was not an issue.

“This is not an issue as of the moment. Let’s make him take a break from the stress caused by issues that he himself created,” Lacson said, referring specifically to Alan.

“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.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also said it was “okay” for the Cayetanos, particularly Alan and his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, to go on a personal trip, saying it was for “health reasons.”

“They're there for health reasons. I wish them well. Okay lang ’yun, walang problema (That’s okay, there’s no problem with that),” Zubiri said in an ambush interview. — RSJ/VBL, GMA News