MANILA — Malacañang on Friday told Sen. Pia Cayetano that she has no reason to fear for her liberty if she has done nothing wrong, after the senator said she felt pressured and feared for her freedom during a Senate impeachment court session.
Cayetano raised the concern on Sept. 16 during proceedings in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. She said she felt pressured after National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag made statements about her trip to Singapore and her return to the Philippines.
“I fear for my liberty,” Cayetano said during the session. She also said she feared for her right to speak.
Cayetano said Matibag’s statements made her feel as though authorities treated her like a fugitive.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, however, said Matibag had denied monitoring Cayetano.
“Sen. Pia does not need to panic,” Castro said in a video statement, citing Matibag’s recent interview.
Castro said Matibag expressed surprise at Cayetano’s reaction and maintained that he was not monitoring the senator.
The Palace official also questioned whether Cayetano’s concerns stemmed from reports linking her to alleged budget insertions involving her brother, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
Cayetano and Alan Peter Cayetano traveled to Singapore on Sept. 9 and returned to the Philippines on Sept. 12. The Bureau of Immigration earlier said neither senator had a hold departure order or derogatory record that would have prevented the trip.
During the impeachment proceedings, Pia Cayetano also cited the cases involving other senators. She mentioned Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, who face cases before the Sandiganbayan, as well as Ronald dela Rosa, who remains in hiding amid an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
Cayetano said the circumstances surrounding some senators had contributed to her concerns about her own liberty and ability to speak during the impeachment proceedings.
Castro said the government should not face accusations of targeting political allies or opponents simply because authorities investigate alleged crimes and file cases in court.
She said the alleged offenses involving senators who cannot attend the impeachment proceedings occurred before the trial began.
“If the funds were used properly, there is nothing to fear,” Castro said.
She added that investigators had gathered evidence and that witnesses were willing to testify about the allegations.
