MANILA – Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s trip abroad should not be an issue for now, saying his fellow senator should be allowed to take a break from the stress arising from issues he himself created.

Lacson also wished Cayetano well despite their differences, particularly if the senator and his wife, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, are traveling for health-related reasons.

“This is not an issue as of the moment. Let’s make him (them) take a break from the stress caused by issues that he himself created. 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 said in a post on X.

Photos of Cayetano at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 circulated online Wednesday evening, showing him lining up for a Singapore Airlines flight.

Cayetano is under investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged irregularities in the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

He served as chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc).

Lacson earlier filed with the Office of the Ombudsman at least 45 case studies supported by official documents detailing what he described as “systemic anomalies” in flood control infrastructure projects in Taguig City, Cayetano’s bailiwick.

The Ombudsman has since initiated a fact-finding investigation into the allegations involving the Taguig projects.

Lacson has repeatedly questioned the implementation of the projects and called for accountability among those responsible for alleged irregularities in the use of public funds.