The Presidential Communications Office said Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte applied for travel authority on April 14, disputing claims that approval for her planned overseas trip was made at the last minute.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said records show Duterte’s request was filed days before her intended departure, and that the release of travel authority a day prior to travel is standard practice.
“Ang bise presidente ayon sa mga records ay nakakatanggap ng dokumento para sa travel authority niya a day before her intended vacation. Hindi naman sya tinanggihan,” Castro told reporters during a Malacañang press briefing.
“Wala pa sa record na kapag siya’y nag-request ng pagbabakasyon o personal trip na mahabang araw o mahabang panahon na siya’y tinanggihan," she added.
Castro added that requests from the vice president are typically processed within five working days and are not denied, noting that her office often expedites such applications.
The Palace also pushed back on Duterte’s appeal for confidentiality regarding her travel documents, emphasizing that public officials are subject to transparency.
“Siya ay isang public servant. Hindi siya pribado. Hindi maitatago ang mga bagay-bagay na nais niya itago. May mga bagay na dapat nalalaman ng publiko dahil siya ay isang public servant,” Castro said, adding that certain information must be disclosed, especially amid ongoing issues involving the vice president.
Castro also questioned Duterte’s decision to cancel the trip, saying the focus should be on why the vice president changed her plans.
“Ang issue na lang dito sabi nga natin, we expedite the travel request, we usually expedite the processing of the travel request," she said.
“What matters most now, bakit nagbago ang isipan ng bise presidente? What made her change her mind is the 6.7 billion question,” Castro stated, an apparent reference to previously flagged transactions linked to the vice president.
Earlier, the Vice President said in an online statement that she decided not to proceed with her planned travel to Europe and South Korea due to uncertainty over whether she would be allowed to leave the country. She said she would instead submit a new request for travel authority.
The vice president had sought permission for a personal trip, but concerns over timing and approval sparked criticism, which the Palace maintained was unfounded under existing procedures.
