Manila, Sept. 10 -- Senate President Win Gatchalian on Thursday said Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is not required to notify the Senate leadership if his reported trip abroad was personal, stressing that only official travel using Senate resources needs formal clearance.

"Actually, wala pa akong official information kung talagang nakalabas siya o hindi (Actually, I still have no official information if he has really left the country or not)," Gatchalian said in an ambush interview at the Senate.

"Pero pag personal trips, hindi naman kailangang magpaalam sa Senado (But for personal trips, there is no need to ask permission from the Senate)," he added.

Gatchalian said travel authority is required when a senator's trip is off...