Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on Frequent Overseas Trips
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President defended her frequent travel abroad claiming that the Filipino communities abroad are allegedly “frustrated”.
This year, Vice Pres. Duterte has been to several countries abroad. Previously, after the 2025 Midterm Elections, she has been to four (4) countries in less than a month — Qatar, The Netherlands, Malaysia, and Australia.
Amid many Filipinos including government officials noticing her frequent overseas trips, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte insisted that she spends her own money in her “personal trips” abroad but she remains to work. According to her, it is only during official travels that she uses public funds.
The Palace was previously asked about the frequent overseas trips of the Vice President. According to Malacañang, it is Vice Pres. Duterte’s choice already if she is busy with her travels abroad. Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro also stressed that the people are seeing what the elected official is doing.
Castro previously dared the Vice President to a submit a report of her work while she is abroad to prove if she is really working while she’s in other countries. However, the Vice President said it is not her obligation to disclose the details of her travel.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte ditched the 4th State of the Nation Address or SONA of Pres. Bongbong Marcos — for the second time around. Vice Pres. Duterte previously claimed that she will meet with the Filipino communities in South Korea and she does not expect to hear anything substantial about the country from the President.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte defended her frequent overseas trips anew. Based on a report of GMA News, the Vice President claimed that she travels because the Filipino communities abroad are allegedly “frustrated” already due to what is happening in the country.
“Nagtatravel ako, lumalabas ako ng bansa, dahil frustrated na ang Pilipino communities abroad sa nangyayari dito sa ating bayan,” the Vice President said.
Based on the report, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also issued a challenge for the members of the House of Representatives to also disclose the details about their travels before pointing to her.
“Ilabas rin siguro nila ‘yung mga travels ng mga members of the House of Representatives bago sila magtuturo ng mga tao na constant travel,” Duterte said.
Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno accepted the challenge of Vice Pres. Duterte. According to him, he agrees with the Vice President for all members of the House to disclose their overseas travels as he sets that there is a distinction between personal trips and official travels. Puno stressed that during personal trips, the government official uses his/her own money while during official travels, the public funds are used.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte denied going to “Kuwait without a travel authority” and blamed the Palace for it.