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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara goes to Australia for a pro-Duterte rally

VP Sara goes to Australia for a pro-Duterte rally

Published Jun 20, 2025 11:55 am  |  Updated Jun 20, 2025 06:25 pm
Vice President Sara Duterte has departed the country to attend a pro-Duterte rally in Melbourne, Australia.
Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
In a statement on June 20, the Office of the Vice President disclosed that Duterte is currently in Australia. 
She is scheduled to attend the “Free Duterte Now” rally in support of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, in Melbourne on June 22.
“Vice President Sara Duterte is currently on a personal trip to Australia and will be attending the ‘Free Duterte Now’ rally scheduled for June 22, 2025, in Melbourne,” the OVP said.
The Vice President was also outside the country— Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia— last week during the celebration of Philippine Independence Day where she met with the Filipino community.
Former president Duterte is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague for charges against humanity.
‘Personal trip again’
While Malacañang said the Vice President was not violating any rule for doing multiple personal trips within a month, she might be violating her obligation to the people.
“Ang kanya lang sigurong nalalabag ay ang kanyang obligasyon sa taumbayan (Perhaps, she is only violating her obligation to the people),” Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said when asked for the Palace’s reaction on Duterte’s latest trip to Australia during a briefing on Friday, June 20.
If the Vice President is busy with her personal trips, the Palace cannot do anything about it, Castro said.
“So kung doon po abala ang ating bise presidente sa mga personal trips niya or personal trips niya with her family, choice po ng bise presidente yun (So, if our Vice President is busy with her personal trips or personal trips with her family, that is her choice),” Castro said. 
“Sabi nga natin, pang personal o pang bayan? That is the question (Like what we said, for personal or for the nation? That’s the question),” she added. 
“So wala po tayong masasabi kung ano ang ginagawa niya ngayon bilang bise presidente. Ito po ang nakikita ng taumbayan sa kanyang ginagawa bilang isang halal na lider ng bansa (So, we have nothing to say about her whereabouts as the Vice President. This is what the people are seeing as an elected leader of the country),” Castro further said.
The Palace official noted that within less than a month, Duterte has taken four trips abroad—the Netherlands, Qatar, Kuala Lumpur, and Australia.

Related Tags

VP Sara Duterte OVP Australia Rodrigo Duterte
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