Vice President Sara Duterte’s The Hague Visit Explained
Manila — Office of the Vice President (OVP) spokesperson Ruth Castelo has defended Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent trip to The Hague, Netherlands, emphasizing that the visit is a “personal trip,” not a “vacation.” Castelo insists the four-word keyphrase “Vice President Sara Duterte” clarifies the nature of the trip amid public scrutiny.
In a radio interview, Castelo said in Filipino, “I don’t know if her visit to the prison can be called a vacation. I don’t see how the actions of Vice President Duterte can be seen as vacation. Just because she is at the Hague doesn’t mean her office is sleeping. Just because she is there doesn’t mean all the staff will no longer work.” She highlighted that Duterte’s presence abroad does not halt the daily operations of the OVP.
Office of the Vice President Remains Functional
Castelo reassured the public that the Office of the Vice President continues to operate efficiently during Duterte’s absence. “There are competent and able people in the Office of the Vice President who can do their jobs without her,” she said. Furthermore, she pointed out that the chief of staff is actively supervising all ongoing matters. Important decisions are still routed through Vice President Sara Duterte, ensuring continuity in governance.
Recent criticisms from Malacañang suggested that Duterte’s frequent trips abroad might conflict with her duties. A palace official previously remarked that the only potential violation was “her obligation to the people.” At that time, Duterte had announced a personal trip to Australia after meeting with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Malaysia during the Philippine Independence Day celebrations.
Recent Travels and Official Approvals
In May, Vice President Sara Duterte marked her 47th birthday at The Hague following a visit to OFWs in Doha, Qatar, where she participated in thanksgiving activities. Despite the personal nature of these trips, Castelo emphasized that “all of the trips undertaken by the Vice President, whether official or personal, have a travel authority from the Office of the President.”
Currently visiting her father at The Hague, Duterte also confirmed plans to travel to South Korea on July 27. There, she will speak at a Filipino community program. She shared, “Yes, we confirmed on the schedule because I wanted to thank the Filipino community as well in South Korea, personally thank them.” She expressed deep gratitude to Filipino communities worldwide and strives to personally acknowledge their support whenever invitations arise.
For more news and updates on Vice President Sara Duterte, visit Filipinokami.com.