Sara Duterte Fires Back at Palace: My Private Travels Are None of Your Business
SARA DUTERTE – Vice President Sara Duterte has asserted that she is not required to disclose details of her personal trips, following criticisms from Malacañang about her recent travel to Australia.
Sara Duterte stood firm on her stance that she is not required to disclose details about her personal trips, following criticism from Malacañang about her recent travel to Australia. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro had earlier encouraged the Vice President to provide more information, especially after Duterte claimed she was still fulfilling her duties while abroad.
“‘Yan ‘yung example ko sa inyo na bobo talaga, ‘di ba?” Duterte said in a candid interview with local media in her home city of Davao on Friday, June 27.
Duterte emphasized that personal trips made while on leave and without using public funds fall outside the realm of mandatory disclosure. “Kapag gumagamit ka ng pera ng gobyerno, official business ‘yan, kailangan mo mag-report,” she explained.
Responding to remarks that she was “angry” or “emotional” over the issue, Duterte refuted such descriptions, stating that her reactions were misinterpreted. The Vice President previously described the administration’s stance as “bobo,” or stupid, intensifying political tensions between her and the Marcos administration.
The Palace has raised questions over Duterte’s frequent travels abroad, particularly her visit to the Netherlands to see her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained there. Castro remarked that while Duterte is free to travel, such trips might affect her ability to perform official duties.
In a sharper rebuke, Duterte accused the Marcos administration of using her as a “political scapegoat,” alleging that criticisms were attempts to distract the public from the administration’s shortcomings.
“Kapag walang nangyayari sa administrasyon mo at walang ginagawa ‘yung principal o ‘yung presidente, ang gagawin nila is magtuturo ng ibang tao. Kapag merong kuwestyon sa kawalan ng ginagawa ng administrasyon, ang gagawin nila ay magtuturo sa ibang tao para nawawala ‘yung tanong at parang nagugulo ang mga tao,” she added.
Duterte has also claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to eliminate her as a “frontrunner” for the 2028 presidential elections, turning their political rivalry into a national spectacle.