Statement of Malacañang on Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s Frequent Overseas Trips
Malacañang hit back at the remarks of Vice President Sara Duterte saying she frequently travels abroad due to “frustrated” Filipino communities in other countries.
Since former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was sent to The Hague, Netherlands for the transfer of his custody to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the public witnessed frequent overseas trips of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. While she’s expected to frequently be in The Hague for her father, the Vice President also went on several trips to other countries which gained criticisms.
After the 2025 Midterm Elections, Vice Pres. Duterte has been to four (4) countries in less than a month. She met with the Filipinos in Doha, Qatar and flew to The Hague, Netherlands for scheduled visits to her father. She also attend a Philippine Independence Day celebration with senators Robin Padilla and Imee Marcos in Malaysia afterwards.
It was in Malaysia where Sen. Robin Padilla made an early campaigning for Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and Sen. Imee Marcos for the 2028 Elections. He claimed that he will be the campaign manager of the tandem in the next polls. After her Malaysia trip, the Vice President returned shortly in the Philippines for the 2025 Pasidungog event of her office before flying to Australia.
In Australia, Vice Pres. Duterte reportedly urged the Filipinos to convince the Australian government to look into the “injustice” against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. She attended a Free Duterte Now rally there.
Amid her frequent overseas trips, Malacañang was asked about the possible violation that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte may be committing. Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro claimed that the Vice President may be going against her obligations to the people.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte defended her frequent abroad travels anew claiming that her overseas trips are allegedly because the Filipino communities abroad are “frustrated” over what is happening in the country. Based on a report of GMA News, Malacañang hit back at the claim of the Vice President.
“Mapu-frustrate ‘yung mga kababayan natin abroad dahil ang Pangulo po ay nasa Pilipinas nagtatrabaho samantalang ang Bise Presidente ay madalas nasa personal trip at hindi po sagot ang pagbabyahe para ma solusyunan kung may problema man ang bansa,” Castro said.
The Malacañang press official also said that it is not the job of the Vice President and it is not in the Constitution that the Vice President should travel to destroy the reputation of the President and ask the Filipino people to out the Chief Executive,
“Pag pinatanggal po ang Pangulo sa kanyang pwesto, ang makikinabang po diyan ay ang Bise Presidente. Siguro dapat mas maging maliwanag lamang na ang personal trip ay pang personal agenda,” the Malacañang press official said based on the report.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte hits the Marcos administration anew saying she already expects budget cuts in the proposed P903-million OVP budget because the President and the House Speaker are still the same.