Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Davao City 1st District Rep.  Paolo "Pulong" Z. Duterte  attends the opening session of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17653652068231765365204192.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo &quot;Pulong&quot; Z. Duterte attends the opening session of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo &quot;Pulong&quot; Z. Duterte attends the opening session of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong>— Some lawmakers have questioned Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte’s plan to travel to 17 countries from December 15 this year to February 20 next year that he is seeking travel authority for. </p><p>ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio, a vocal Duterte critic, said the public should expect a “higher standard of service” from elected representatives.</p><p>“Well, ano ba siya? Kinatawan ng distrito o Miss Universe? Trabaho ng isang congressman ay katawanin ang kanyang distrito,&quot; he said.</p><p>(What is he, a district representative or Miss Universe? A congressman&#x27;s job is to represent their district.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/9/paolo-duterte-seeks-clearance-to-travel-to-17-countries-1701"><strong>Paolo Duterte seeks clearance to travel to 17 countries<br/></strong></a></div><p>Tinio said that even at the most basic level, Duterte&#x27;s constituents should expect their congressman to advocate for their interests at House sessions and committee meetings. </p><p>Rep. Duterte, son of former President Rodrigo Duterte and sister of Vice President Sara Duterte, has requested to attend sessions remotely. He has also said he will pay for his trips with his personal funds.</p><p>Tinio also raised concerns on the timing of the request given the Independent Commission for Infrastructure&#x27;s invitation for Rep. Duterte to appear in its inquiry on alleged flood control project anomalies.</p><p>The Davao City congressman has declined the invitation, saying he does not believe the ICI has authority over a member of the legislature.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/4/paolo-duterte-declines-vague-ambiguous-ici-invitation-1003"><strong>Paolo Duterte declines ‘vague, ambiguous’ ICI invitation<br/></strong></a></div><p>“Well, kaduda-duda rin ang timing ng request dahil I think panahon na inaanyayahan siya ng ICI na sumagot ng ilang katanungan hinggil sa mga public infrastructure projects sa 1st District ng Davao. So hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa niya sinasagot ito,” Tinio told reporters on Wednesday.</p><p>(The timing is also questionable because the ICI has invited him to answer some questions on infrastructure projects in the 1st District. He has yet to answer these)</p><p>Tinio earlier this month asked the ICI to <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/2/ici-urged-to-investigate-p4-4-b-worth-of-flood-control-projects-in-davao-city-1754">look into the implementation of P4.4 billion in flood-control projects in Davao City</a>.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RIDON HOPES DUTERTE WILL MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE FOR PROCEEDINGS</strong></div><p>Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, meanwhile, said he believes Rep. Duterte  should make sure he is available to attend proceedings involving Davao City infrastructure projects.</p><p>“So hopefully, within the two months na mawala siya, pagka nagpatawag po, for example, ‘yung Office of Ombudsman na further proceedings on Davao City projects, magpakita ho si Congressman Duterte sa Ombudsman,” Ridon said.</p><p>(Hopefully, within the two months that he will be away, Congressman Duterte will appear before the Office of the Ombudsman if called to do so.)</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/10/zaldy-co-passport-cancelled-1350"><strong>Marcos says Zaldy Co passport cancelled<br/></strong></a></div><p>House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said he “sympathizes” with the public in asking questions regarding the request as it is a trip that is “not ordinary.”</p><p>He added that “as to why there&#x27;s a need for Congressman Pulong Duterte to travel to 17 countries for the span of two months, that&#x27;s a question that I think should be answered by him.” </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PALACE: REP. DUTERTE&#x27;S CONSTITUENTS SHOULD KNOW</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, the Palace said the people of Davao City&#x27;s 1st District should be informed that their congressman will be away from work for more than two months.</p><p>Davao City is the Dutertes&#x27; bailiwick and Rep. Duterte won the seat for 1st District in May by a lead of more than 150,000 votes from his closest rival. </p><p>“Kahit hindi siya official travel, kasi lahat ng public servant, dapat nagsisilbi sa bayan,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.</p><p>(Even if it is not official travel since all public servants should be serving the country)</p><p>“Kung magbabakasyon ng mahigit dalawang buwan, hindi natin alam kung papaano niya i-explain ito sa kanyang constituents,” she also said.</p><p>(If he will be on vacation for more than two months, we don&#x27;t know how he will explain that to his constituents)</p><p>She declined to comment further, saying that Duterte knows what he is doing.</p><p>Castro has also been critical of Vice President Duterte&#x27;s frequent overseas trips.</p>

<p>Some lawmakers have questioned Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte’s plan to travel to 17 countries from December 15 this year to February 20 next year that he is seeking travel authority for.</p>

Some lawmakers have questioned Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte’s plan to travel to 17 countries from December 15 this year to February 20 next year that he is seeking travel authority for.

Paolo Duterte's planned 17-country tour raises questions from colleagues

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Paolo Duterte's planned 17-country tour raises questions from colleagues

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 10, 2025 07:21 PM PHT

|

Updated December 11, 2025 01:47 AM PHT

Read More:

Paolo Duterte

House of Representatives

travel clearance

Antonio Tinio

Terry Ridon

Zia Alonto Adiong

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