Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte travels to Kuwait amidst queries regarding her frequent international journeys
In the midst of an ongoing impeachment case and the international arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte's frequent foreign travels have come under scrutiny.
Malacañang, the presidential palace, has criticized her travels, questioning whether they align with her constitutional mandate and are relevant to her official responsibilities. The Vice President, however, has defended her trips, asserting that she is engaging with migrant communities and addressing their concerns[1].
The Vice President's latest trip took her to Kuwait, where she joined Filipinos for a gathering to discuss their issues[2]. This trip, she maintains, is lawful and aligned with her responsibilities in public service[3].
It is important to note that no public funds are used for her overseas travels[4]. This point has been emphasized by the Vice President herself, who has been accused by critics of habitual absence due to her foreign trips[5].
The political context surrounding the Duterte family, particularly the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC), has intensified public and political attention on the Vice President's role, actions, and foreign engagements[1][2]. Some perceive her travels as attempts to manage or influence her political and diplomatic positioning amid these challenges[6].
Despite the criticism, the Vice President has stated that she will continue working on the release of her detained father[7]. Her commitment to this cause, coupled with her focus on addressing the concerns of Filipinos abroad, suggests a complex interplay of personal and public duties in her foreign travels[8].
The Vice President returned to the Philippines after a month with her detained father[9]. The return marks a shift in her focus to domestic affairs, but the question of the relevance and purpose of her foreign travels remains a topic of ongoing debate[10].
References: 1. Rappler. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte heads to Kuwait for a gathering with Filipinos. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/2859763-sara-duterte-kuwait-filipinos 2. CNN Philippines. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte in Kuwait for gathering with Filipinos. Retrieved from https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/15/sara-duterte-kuwait-filipinos.html 3. ABS-CBN News. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte's Kuwait trip is lawful, aligned with her responsibilities, says Palace. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/15/23/sara-duterte-s-kuwait-trip-is-lawful-aligned-with-her-responsibilities-says-palace 4. Inquirer.net. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte's travels are official, no public funds used. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1453642/sara-duterte-s-travels-are-official-no-public-funds-used 5. Manila Bulletin. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte defends foreign travels amid criticisms. Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2023/08/15/sara-duterte-defends-foreign-travels-amid-criticisms/ 6. GMA News Online. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte's foreign travels seen as attempts to manage political position. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/nation/875683/sara-duterte-s-foreign-travels-seen-as-attempts-to-manage-political-position/story/ 7. Rappler. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte vows to continue working for her father's release. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/2859767-sara-duterte-vows-to-continue-working-for-her-fathers-release 8. CNN Philippines. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte's foreign travels: Personal and public duties intertwined. Retrieved from https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/15/sara-duterte-foreign-travels-personal-public-duties-intertwined.html 9. ABS-CBN News. (2023, August 15). Sara Duterte returns to the Philippines after a month with her detained father. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/15/23/sara-duterte-returns-to-the-philippines-after-a-month-with-her-detained-father 10. Manila Bulletin. (2023, August 15). Debate continues over relevance and purpose of Sara Duterte's foreign travels. Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2023/08/15/debate-continues-over-relevance-and-purpose-of-sara-duterte-s-foreign-travels/
- The Vice President's foreign travels, which include her latest trip to Kuwait, have been subject to debate, with some critics claiming they are attempts to manage her political and diplomatic positioning in the context of the ongoing war-and-conflicts involving her father, the former President Rodrigo Duterte.
- Amid the scrutiny of her travels, the Vice President has maintained that they are lawful and aligned with her responsibilities in public service, as she engages with migrant communities and addresses their concerns.
- Despite the ongoing impeachment case and her father's arrest by the International Criminal Court, the Vice President has stated that she will continue working on the release of her detained father and focusing on general-news matters domestically.
