Vice President Sara Duterte said Thursday she will reschedule her planned overseas trip and submit a new travel request after receiving her travel authority shortly before her intended departure date.
In a statement released April 23, Duterte said the timing of the clearance created uncertainty over whether she could proceed as scheduled, leading her to adjust her plans. Malacañang earlier confirmed that Duterte requested authority to travel from April 23 to May 15 to the Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The travel authority, signed by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on April 22, authorized her to travel while on leave and at no cost to the government. Duterte said the short notice affected travel preparations, including scheduling and coordination.
Duterte said she plans to submit a new request for a revised travel schedule and asked that future travel documents be processed with sufficient lead time to allow for necessary arrangements.
She also noted the importance of proper handling of sensitive documents, citing the need for confidentiality and coordination to support security preparations during official travel.
