Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Cayetano siblings’ recent overseas trip was nothing more than time off after weeks of stress.

“They probably need a break. I know they have been under stress lately, as Senator Ping Lacson said, and I would follow the words of Senator Lacson,” Remulla said in a press briefing on Friday.

The “break” that the Ombudsman was referring to was the reported trip of Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano to Singapore on 9 September.

In a statement addressing pictures that circulated online, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that the trio was “currently out of the country” and noted no restrictions on their travel.

“Based on BI records, 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,” the agency said.

Separate path

While much has been speculated regarding the trip, Remulla said that their office was not alarmed about the development despite their ongoing investigation into an obstruction of justice complaint filed against Alan.

“I don’t think it will follow the other path that Loren Legarda and her son took,” he said.

Legarda and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, have been out of the country since July, reportedly taking a trip to France and Switzerland.