MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has assured Vice President Sara Duterte that her request for travel authority will be approved, but the Palace is openly questioning the appropriateness of a 22-day “world tour” while the country grapples with a global energy crisis and her own ongoing impeachment proceedings.
In a press briefing on Thursday, April 23, 2026, Palace press officer Claire Castro clarified that the Office of the President (OP) has never denied the Vice President’s travel requests and that the current delay is part of standard administrative processing.
The exchange highlights growing friction between the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) regarding the transparency of high-level travel:
- VP’s Allegation: Vice President Duterte claimed the OP deliberately issued her travel authority at the “last minute”—only hours before her intended departure—forcing her to change her plans due to “uncertainty.”
- Palace Response: Castro countered that travel authorities for the Vice President are traditionally granted a day before departure. She noted that Duterte’s request, filed on April 14, requires at least five working days for vetting and security coordination.
- The Itinerary: The Vice President’s planned 22-day leave (from April 23 to May 15) reportedly covers five countries: the Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Beyond the administrative timeline, the Palace raised ethical concerns regarding the Vice President’s absence during a period of national and personal turmoil:
- Middle East Crisis: Castro pointed out that with the Philippines currently managing economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East, a high-ranking official taking an extended vacation may send the wrong signal to the public.
- Impeachment and AMLC Issues: The Vice President is currently facing a House impeachment inquiry and recent allegations from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding billion-peso transactions.
- Public vs. Private: While the OVP argued that the travel authority should have remained confidential for “security arrangements,” the Palace maintained that as a public servant, the Vice President’s movements are a matter of public interest.
“She is not a private individual and she cannot hide things she wants to conceal. If she wants to take a vacation and go on a world tour—then we’ll let her be, considering she has no hold departure order. But is it appropriate now?” Castro stated.
The Vice President has expressed dissatisfaction with the public disclosure of her travel plans, citing potential risks to her security. However, the Palace asserted that the public has a right to know when the second-highest official in the land is out of the country, especially for an extended period.
- New Request: Vice President Duterte has announced she will file a new request for travel authority, urging the OP to process it “promptly” to allow for sufficient preparation time.
- Official Stance: Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed that the initial approval had been secured, but since the VP opted not to proceed on the original date, a new submission is required to update the official records.
The situation remains a point of contention as the House Quad Committee continues its investigation into the Duterte family’s financial records, further complicating the political optics of an international trip.