The House of Representatives has granted Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte permission to travel to 17 countries, just weeks after the International Criminal Court (ICC) detained his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, over alleged crimes against humanity.
On Tuesday, sources provided reporters with copies of the travel clearance, approved by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco. The document authorizes Duterte’s trips from March 20 to May 10, 2025.
“As requested, travel clearance is hereby granted to the Honorable Paolo Z. Duterte, Representative, 1st District, Davao City, in connection with his personal trip,” the travel clearance signed by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco read.
His destinations include key global hubs such as the U.S., China, Japan, the U.K., and multiple European and Southeast Asian countries. The complete itinerary lists Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, the U.S., Australia, the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Singapore.
Initially, Duterte sought approval for a shorter trip with fewer stops. In a March 11, 2025, letter to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, he requested clearance only for personal visits to the Netherlands and Japan from March 12 to April 15, 2025.
Just days later, on March 17, Duterte submitted an updated request, seeking permission to visit London and China between March 17 and April 20.
However, by March 20, his travel plans had grown substantially—he was now covering 17 countries across three continents and stretching his trip until May 10.
Rep. Duterte, who is running for re-election in 2025, will be out of the country for close to two months—a period he could have used to campaign and discuss his legislative plans with voters in his district.
Duterte’s travel comes at a time of intense scrutiny for his family. While his father is detained in The Netherlands, his sibling, Vice President Sara Duterte, is facing an impeachment complaint in Congress. (TCSP)
