Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte Speaks Anew on Request for Travel Clearance
PAOLO DUTERTE – The Davao Congressman denied the “world tour” tag on his upcoming foreign trip citing 17 countries in the request for a Travel Clearance.
Recently, the International Criminal Court or ICC rejected the interim release plea of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. His family expects that he will spend the holidays inside the ICC detention center in The Hague, Netherlands. Thus, the Duterte siblings are also expected to be in The Hague to visit their father.
The Netherlands is one of the countries mentioned in the request of Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte for a travel clearance citing 17 countries abroad in two (2) months. He plans to travel from December 15 to February 20.
In his letter to House Speaker Bojie Dy, the younger Duterte assured that he will continue to attend the House sessions virtually. The House Chief has yet to respond to the request of the Davao Congressman.
Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte did not specify the reason behind his overseas trip in his letter to the House Speaker. He mentioned the countries that he wish to visit which are as follows:
- Hong Kong
- China
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- South Korea
- Japan
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- United States
- Australia
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- Germany
- France
- Belgium
- Italy
- Singapore
Previously, Malacañang reacted to the looming 2-month trip abroad of Duterte. According to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, the Davao Congressman should allegedly explain it to his constituents.
The request of Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte for a Travel Clearance to visit 17 countries earned different comments. There were also criticisms calling it as allegedly a “world tour”. Recently, the Davao Congressman denied that it is a “world tour”.
In a statement posted on social media, Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte stressed all his trips have official travel clearances from the House of Representatives. He also explained that it is a normal practice in the government to state all possible stopovers and transits in the travel authority.
“If the route or flight changes, there will be no issue of paper. I used to do this every time I visited my father in the Netherlands — standard procedure only. This isn’t luxury, this isn’t a gimmick — it’s just compliance,” he wrote.
Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte also expressed his confidence that the Davaoeños know that he works quietly and clearly. In his statement, he stressed that his upcoming travel is not a world tour but for work and his family obligations.
Previously, Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte said the fund for his overseas trip to 17 countries will be his personal money.