House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Terry Ridon said Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte has the right to travel abroad, but he should also face investigations into anomalous projects in his district.
“While Rep. Paolo Duterte has the right to request travel clearances for foreign trips exceeding two months, he should make himself available to investigative bodies such as the Office of the Ombudsman for any proceedings on infrastructure and flood-control projects in his district,” Ridon said.
He added, “The same standard should apply to other district representatives in whose areas DPWH, AFP, and PNP engineering teams have found substandard projects. They may be required to provide immediate and direct information on the origination, planning, and implementation of these projects.”
Ridon stressed that participation in investigations is crucial for uncovering the truth.
Duterte had previously refused to appear before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which is investigating questionable flood control projects.
He has requested travel clearance from the House to visit 16 countries, including Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Singapore, from December 15, 2025, to February 20, 2026.