Malacañang said Sen. Pia Cayetano should not be alarmed by the National Bureau of Investigation’s interest in her recent travel, as the agency’s director has said she was not being monitored.
Palace press officer Claire Castro made the statement Friday after Cayetano raised concerns in the Senate about her liberty and ability to speak freely. She had questioned why NBI Director Melvin Matibag appeared to know when she and her brother, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, would return from Singapore.
Cayetano and Alan Peter traveled to Singapore on September 9 and returned to the Philippines on September 12. The Bureau of Immigration previously confirmed that neither senator had a hold departure order or derogatory record that would have prevented the trip.
The senator said she felt pressured after hearing statements about her whereabouts and return schedule.
“I will tell you all now, am I pressured? I am. I am. I fear for my liberty. Even in the Senate, we have a colleague, na walang katapusang tantanan kami (Even in the Senate, we have a colleague who just won’t stop going after us.). I fear for my right to speak,” Cayetano said during the Senate proceedings.
Castro, however, pointed to Matibag’s more recent comments, saying the NBI chief had denied monitoring Cayetano and was surprised by the senator’s reaction.
“Senator Pia does not need to panic. In the most recent interview we watched with NBI Director Matibag, he said he was not monitoring Senator Pia, and he was reportedly surprised by the senator’s reaction,” Castro said.
The issue gained attention after Matibag earlier disclosed that he had information about the siblings’ expected return from Singapore. At the time, he said the trip itself was not a problem but acknowledged that its timing could prompt public discussion.
The Palace also connected the controversy to questions surrounding alleged budget insertions involving the Cayetano siblings. Sen. Panfilo Lacson previously claimed that Pia Cayetano had about P4.7 billion in budget insertions in 2025, while Alan Peter had about P6.7 billion. Lacson also said further investigation was needed to establish whether Pia had any connection to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Castro said government investigations should not automatically be interpreted as politically motivated because those being investigated are not government allies.
“If the funds were used properly, there is nothing to fear. But to put malice on investigations and the filing of cases in court simply because they are not allies, that is totally unfair,” Castro said.
She also argued that the investigations involving some senators did not arise solely because of the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“It is not the fault of the investigators or the courts trying the cases involving certain individuals,” Castro said.
“That is their mandate. Whether there is an impeachment or no impeachment trial, they will carry out their obligations,” she added.
