Palace to Pia Cayetano on fear for her liberty: Is this paranoia? Don’t panic

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday said there is no need for Sen. Pia Cayetano to “fear” for her liberty if she has done nothing wrong.

This remark came after the senator, during a Senate impeachment court session on September 16, said that she was under pressure and feared for her liberty.

Cayetano had said that National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag allegedly made her appear “like a common fugitive.”

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Citing Matibag’s statements, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said there was no ongoing surveillance of the senator that she needed to worry about.

“Sen. Pia does not need to panic,” the Palace official said in a video statement.

“In the most recent interview we saw with NBI Director Matibag, he said he was not monitoring Sen. Pia and was surprised by the senator’s reaction,” Castro said.

The press officer added that if Cayetano had not done anything wrong, there is no reason for her to be afraid.

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She then asked, “Does this show sign of paranoia?”

“Is Sen. Pia now fearful because her name has been mentioned in connection with the P1.5 billion insertion involving her brother, Sen. Alan Cayetano, with the funds reportedly allocated for improvements to Laguna Lake and slope protection?” Castro also wondered.

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During the impeachment proceedings, Cayetano noted out that Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, who are facing graft cases before the Sandiganbayan, are in jail, while another senator, Ronald dela Rosa, is in hiding.

“I will tell you all now. Am I pressured? I am,” she said after mentioning speculations about her and her brother, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s trip to Singapore last week.

“I fear for my liberty,” she admitted.

“I fear for my right to speak,” the senator also said after referring to an unnamed colleague who, she said, has been attacking them.

Castro, however, said it was unfair to cast suspicion on investigations and the filing of cases in court simply because those involved were supposedly not allies.

She stressed that the alleged crimes involving the senators, who are unable to appear in the Senate, took place even before the impeachment proceedings began.

“If the funds were used properly, there is nothing to fear. But to cast suspicion on the investigation and the filing of cases in court simply because those involved are supposedly not allies is totally unfair,” Castro said.

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“Everyone being investigated now has evidence gathered against them. There are witnesses who are willing to speak out for the truth,” she added. /apl