Vice President Sara Duterte is on a personal trip to Australia, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) confirmed on Friday, 20 June.
The OVP said the Vice President is expected to join a protest calling for the release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, from detention in The Hague, Natherlands.
“Vice President Duterte is currently on a personal trip to Australia and will be attending the Free Duterte Now rally scheduled for 22 June in Melbourne,” the OVP said.
The Vice President left Manila midnight of Tuesday, 17 June, and arrived early Wednesday in Melbourne. There was no information on her return home.
Reacting to her trip, Malacañang said the Vice President‘s decision to prioritize personal matters over official duties weakens her commitment to the Filipino people.
In a press briefing on Friday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said, “The only thing she’s likely violating is her obligation to the people.”
She said it was Duterte’s personal decision to travel.
“Pang personal o pang bayan (Is it personal or for the nation)? That is the question,” Castro added.
The OVP said Duterte’s itinerary includes a demonstration in support of her father who is detained at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague awaiting trial on a charge of crimes against humanity over the bloody drug war before and during his administration.
Last week, the Vice President took a personal trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with her family to attend a Philippine Independence Day celebration and participate in a program with overseas Filipino workers.
She was accompanied by Senators Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla who will serve as senator-judges of her upcoming impeachment trial.
On 5 February, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte on charges of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.