Joselito Malig

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Katrina Domingo

Hernel Tocmo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — Vice President Sara Duterte appeared in Davao City on Thursday, belying Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro’s insinuations that she may have traveled to Kuwait without securing a travel authority. Claims of violating the rule on travel authority — a document that government officials need to secure before leaving the Philippines — is part of the administration’s “political scapegoating,” Duterte told reporters in a chance interview in Davao City.“There’s no truth at all na I went to Kuwait without a travel authority so I guess isa na naman yun sa ginagawa ng Office of the President na ilihis ang usapan sa totoong nanagyayari sa ating bayan,” she said.“Kahapon, nakita natin na unfavorable sa administration ang decision ng Senate of the Philippines so gumawa na naman sila ng kuwento na umalis ako ng bansa na walang travel authority para doon na naman mapunta yung attention ng mga tao at matuloy na naman yung lagi nilang paninira,” she said.“Ang tawag diyan is political scapegoating.”The Senate earlier voted to archive the impeachment case against Duterte, with 19 lawmakers voting in favor of the motion, 4 rejecting it, and one abstaining from the vote, saying that the chamber should first wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling.Before the Senate session, Castro told reporters in India that Duterte has yet to secure a travel authority for her August 8 event in Kuwait.After the voting, Castro went live on her YouTube channel to criticize the OVP’s supposed lack of knowledge of Duterte’s whereabouts.“Pumunta daw ako ng Kuwait without travel authority sabi ni Claire Castro,” Duterte said.“Well, sila naman lagi nagsasabi na wag magpropagate ng fake news and misinformation,” she said.<div>RESPECT THE SENATE’S DECISION</div>Meanwhile, Duterte said the people have to respect the decision of the Senate after it voted by majority of its members to archive the impeachment case she is facing.Duterte said they were not expecting any particular outcome from the Senate, and that her defense team had prepared for any result.“Sa tinuod lang, wala man mi one particular nga expectation. tanan nga pwedeng mahitabo, ginapangandaman gyud na sa atong defense team. kining nahitabo karon sa Senate nga gi-archive nila ang impeachment complaint, isa sa posibleng mahitabo, and as I said we have to respect the decision of the Senate,” she said.(Sa totoo lang, wala naman kaming particular expectation. Lahat nang pwedeng mangyari, pinaghahandaan talaga ng ating defense team. Itong nangyari ngayon sa Senado na in-archive nila ang impeachment complaint, isa sa posibleng mangyayari. And as I said we have to respect the decision of the Senate.)When asked whether the impeachment trial would have been an opportunity to defend herself from the allegations, Duterte said they are still preparing, as it may resurface in the years leading up to the 2028 National Elections.“I wanted all the pieces of evidence from the prosecution and all the pieces of evidence from the defense presented for everyone. But unfortunately, wala na siya sa pagka-karon. Of course, kinahanglan pangandaman ang tanan nga posibleng mahitabo. So possibly, wala ta kabalo 2026, 2027, 2028, naa na puy mag-file og impeachment. that will be the opportunity to answer,” she said.(I wanted all the pieces of evidence from the prosecution and all the pieces of evidence from the defense presented for everyone. But unfortunately, wala na siya sa ngayon. Of course, kailangan paghandaan ang lahat ng posibleng mangyari. So possibly, hindi natin alam, sa 2026, 2027, 2028, baka may mag-file na naman ng impeachment. That will be the opportunity to answer.)<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7zW5B6Afzhw?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Vice President Sara Duterte appeared in Davao City on Thursday, belying Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro’s insinuations that she may have traveled to Kuwait without securing a travel authority.

Vice President Sara Duterte appeared in Davao City on Thursday, belying Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro’s insinuations that she may have traveled to Kuwait without securing a travel authority.

‘Political scapegoating’: Sara Duterte appears in Davao, belies PCO claim she left PH without travel order

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‘Political scapegoating’: Sara Duterte appears in Davao, belies PCO claim she left PH without travel order

Katrina Domingo,

Hernel Tocmo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 07, 2025 07:32 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 08, 2025 12:59 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Office of the Vice President

Claire Castro

travel order

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