Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776905814793Screen Shot 2026-04-21 at 9.12.12 AM (9).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Rodrigo Roa Duterte performs a duet with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Thanksgiving Night at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City on June 24, 2019. <em>Richard Madelo, Presidential Photo/File</em><br/></span></span></span>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday called out the Office of the President for what she calls &quot;last-minute&quot; issuance of her travel authority, saying that her plans have changed “due to uncertainty whether I will be permitted to depart.” </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/22/palace-confirms-sara-duterte-sought-clearance-to-travel-abroad-from-april-23-may-15-2152">Palace confirms Sara Duterte sought clearance to travel abroad from April 23 – May 15</a></div><p>“Thank you for the last-minute issuance of the travel authority. I regret to inform you that the plans have since changed due to uncertainty whether I will be permitted to depart,” Duterte said in a statement Thursday, April 23.</p><p>Malacañang on Wednesday confirmed that Duterte sought clearance to travel to several countries, namely the Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom, from April 23 to May 15, 2026.</p><p>The reported travel authority was signed by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto dated April 22 authorizing Duterte to travel &quot;while on leave&quot; and at &quot;no cost to the government.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/22/amlc-reports-33-suspicious-bank-transactions-under-sara-duterte-husband-1431">AMLC flags P6.7-B &#x27;suspicious, covered&#x27; transactions linked to Sara Duterte, husband</a></div><p>Duterte said she will submit a new travel authority as she called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office to ensure that the documents will be &quot;processed and issued promptly.&quot;</p><p>“You will be receiving a new request soon. Please ensure that the necessary documents be processed and issued promptly, allowing sufficient time for travel preparations rather than only a few hours before the intended departure,” she said.</p><p>“Additionally, ensuring the confidentiality and proper handling of sensitive documents would greatly contribute to maintaining effective security arrangements,” the second in command stated.</p><p>The news of Duterte’s trip abroad came after the House Committee on Justice wrapped its third impeachment hearing on the complaints against her. </p><p>The hearing tackled allegations of unexplained and undeclared wealth on the same day the International Criminal Court upheld its jurisdiction on the case of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PALACE PUSHES BACK</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Malacañang noted that in previous instances, it had been a practice to grant Duterte’s travel clearance “a day before” the trip.  </p><p>“Ganyan ba ang gusto niyang palabasin? Ang Bise Presidente ayon naman po sa records ay nakakatanggap po ng dokumento para sa travel authority niya a day before her intended vacation. So, hindi naman po siya tinanggihan,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing. </p><p>“Wala pa sa record na kapag siya ay nag-request ng pagbabakasyon or personal trip ng mahabang araw o mahaba na panahon na siya ay tinanggihan. So, para sabihin na last minute resolution or decision ito, hindi po ganoon. Dahil iyon po palagi, normally nangyayari po ang pagbibigay sa kanya ng travel authority a day before,” she added.</p><p>According to Castro, Duterte sent her request on April 14 and applications are normally processed within five working days. </p><p>“We usually expedite the processing of the travel request, what matters most now ‘no, bakit nagbago ang isipan ni Pangulo or rather ni dating—ni Bise Presidente, what made her change her mind is the P6.7-billion question,” the Palace official added, seemingly alluding to the &quot;suspicious&quot; and &quot;covered&quot; bank transactions linked to Duterte and her husband which were flagged by the Anti Money Laundering Council at the House impeachment hearing on Wednesday. </p><p>Castro also rejected Duterte’s call for “confidentiality and proper handling of sensitive document”.</p><p>“Siya po ay isang public servant, hindi po siya pribado, hindi po maitatago ang mga bagay-bagay na nais niyang itago. May mga bagay na dapat nalalaman ng publiko dahil siya ay isang public servant. Katulad nga po nito, sa gitna na krisis sa Middle East, sa gitna ng mga bilyones na isyu na nakapaloob ngayon sa Bise Presidente at sa kanyang asawa,” Castro said. </p><p>“Kung kayo ang tatanungin, kung kayo ang Bise Presidente, nararapat ba na magbakasyon, kung iyan po ang nais niya na magbakasyon at mag-World Tour, ibigay ang hilig, considering na wala naman siyang ILBO (immigration lookout bulletin order), wala rin namang precautionary hold departure order,” she added. </p><p>Asked to comment on the AMLC report during the impeachment hearing, Castro said, “Hindi ito bago, hindi ito bago na nadinig natin. So, walang reaksyon ang Pangulo, walang ang Palasyo.”</p><p>“Mas maganda pong malaman natin kung ano ba ang reaksyon ng Bise Presidente dahil nabunyag itong bilyon-bilyon transaksyon na nakita sa kanyang mga bank accounts,” she said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9qzQHdFpEvE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZmnBRAOlWJI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tKfJ5M2FsHA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday called out the Office of the President for what she calls "last-minute" issuance of her travel authority.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday called out the Office of the President for what she calls "last-minute" issuance of her travel authority.

VP Sara calls out Marcos office over 'last minute' travel clearance

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VP Sara calls out Marcos office over 'last minute' travel clearance

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 23, 2026 08:59 AM PHT

|

Updated April 23, 2026 03:19 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

travel clearance

politics

Office of the President

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