Vice President Sara Duterte has left the country for a two-week tour across Europe and the Middle East after obtaining travel clearance from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., even as her Senate impeachment proceedings remain underway.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that Malacañang authorized Duterte’s travel schedule running from July 16 to July 31, classifying it as a private trip.
While the Palace described the travel as personal, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) noted that her schedule incorporates a mix of official commitments and personal visits.
According to the itinerary provided by the OVP, Duterte will visit five countries. Her itinerary includes a stopover in Qatar, attendance at a forum alongside a gathering with the Filipino community in the United Kingdom, and visits in the Netherlands, where her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) facility.
The Vice President is also slated to visit Germany and Northern Ireland before making her return trip to the Philippines.
“These activities are intended to engage with overseas Filipinos and advance the Philippines’ interests abroad,” the OVP said.
The OVP highlighted that no public funds will be used to finance any portion of her travel.
Additionally, the Vice President’s office assured the public that her time away will not hinder daily operations, emphasizing that disaster relief mechanisms are fully active and routine services will proceed through its 10 satellite offices located nationwide.
Meanwhile, Duterte’s impeachment trial in the Senate continues as legislators evaluate claims regarding the alleged misapplication of government funds, alongside accusations involving threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.