Statement of Malacañang on Series of Abroad Travels of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
Malacañang spoke on the abroad travels of Vice President Sara Duterte who has been to four countries in less than a month.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte flew to Doha, Qatar after the 2025 Midterm Elections to meet the Duterte supporters in the country. After it, she went to The Hague, Netherlands with her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, and Senator Imee Marcos for scheduled visits to former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is detained in The Hague for more than 100 days now. He is faced with an accusation of crimes against humanity over the war on drugs of his administration. Vice Pres. Duterte and her mother were allowed to see the former President inside the ICC detention. Afterwards, the Vice President went to Malaysia.
In Malaysia, Sen. Robin Padilla called Vice Pres. Sara Duterte the “next president of the Philippines” at a Philippine Independence Day celebration which they graced together with Sen. Imee Marcos. He also claimed that he will be the campaign manager of the Sara-Imee tandem in 2028.
Padilla campaigned for Sara-Imee to the Filipinos at the event asking them to campaign for the tandem to their families in the Philippines. Afterwards, the Vice President returned shortly to the Philippines and her office held the 2025 Pasidungog.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte flew to Australia as confirmed by the Office of the Vice President. She is expected to join a rally in Australia calling for the release of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Recently, Malacañang was asked about the recent abroad travels of the Vice President.
Malacañang press undersecretary Claire Castro was asked about the possible violation that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte may be committing with her travels abroad. She has been to Qatar, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Australia in less than a month.
“Ang kanya lang sigurong malalabag ay ang kanyang obligasyon sa taumbayan. So, kung doon po abala ang ating Bise Presidente sa mga personal trips niya o personal trips with her family, choice po ng Bise Presidente iyon,” the Palace official said.
Based on a report on Manila Standard, Atty. Claire Castro further stressed that the Filipino people are seeing what the elected leader is doing. The Malacañang press officer said there is nothing that can be done if the Vice President wants to travel.
“So, wala po tayong masasabi. Kung anuman po ang ginagawa ngayon bilang Bise Presidente, ito po ang nakikita ng taumbayan sa kanyang ginagawa bilang isang halal na lider ng bansa,” she said.
Amid being in Australia now, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was recently given 10 days by the Ombudsman after the House recommended the filing of charges against her and 9 other officials of the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) over her offices’ Confidential Funds.