Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday said “we are back” and called for Filipinos to work together to rebuild the country, days after he and his sister, Senator Pia Cayetano, left the Philippines amid ongoing investigations involving the senator.

In a lengthy social media post, Cayetano invoked the biblical account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, saying transforming the country requires “faith, courage, preparation, and people willing to work together.”

“Let us rise and build,” Cayetano quoted from Nehemiah 2:18.

“We are back! And despite everything, we can still smile, share a joke, and say, ‘Chill lang.’ Sometimes, a little humor gives us the breathing room to keep going. Being serious about our responsibilities does not mean we must lose our joy,” he said.

The Cayetano siblings left the country on 9 September, with the Bureau of Immigration confirming the following day that they had departed.

The BI said there were no hold departure orders or derogatory records against the two senators that would have legally prevented them from leaving the country. The agency declined to disclose details of their itinerary, citing the Data Privacy Act.

Senate President Win Gatchalian earlier said senators do not need Senate permission for personal trips. National Bureau of Investigation director Melvin Matibag also said the siblings were expected to return to the Philippines on either 12 or 13 September and that their stated reason for the trip was vacation.