Palace on Paolo Duterte's 17-country trip: His constituents should be informed
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro | Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte
Although Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte will be traveling to 17 countries at his own expense, his constituents should still be informed that he will be abroad for two months, Malacañang said.
While Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said she has nothing to say about the planned trip of Duterte because "it is up to him," he must report to his constituents, considering that he is a public servant.
"Nais niyang magbiyahe, may pera siya, gamit niya ang pera niya sabi niya. E, 17 countries, di nasa kanya po iyon (He wants to travel, he has money, he will use his own money, he said. But that is 17 countries, so it is up to him)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
"At kailangan din sigurong malaman ng constituents niya na siya ay nasa ibang bansa at nasa bakasyon nang halos more than two months. So, wala tayong masasabi kung iyon ang nais niya (And his constituents probably also need to know that he is in another country and on vacation for almost more than two months. So, we have nothing to say if that is what he really wants)," Castro added.
The Palace official further said that even if Duterte's trip is not an official travel, he must let his constituents know since he will be away for more than two months.
"Kahit hindi siya official travel, kasi lahat ng public servant, dapat nagsisilbi sa bayan (Even if it’s not an official travel, all public servants are supposed to serve his nation)," Castro said.
"Kung magbabakasyon ng mahigit dalawang buwan, hindi natin alam kung papaano niya i-explain ito sa kanyang constituents. Well, anyway alam naman po niya ang kanyang ginagawa (If he goes on vacation for over two months, we do not know how he will explain this to his constituents. Well, anyway, he knows what he is doing)," Castro added.
Duterte has requested clearance to travel to 17 countries from Dec. 15, 2025 to Feb. 20, 2026.
The lawmaker said he planned to travel to Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, United States, Australia, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Singapore.