WHY is Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte planning another extensive international trip?
A letter obtained by reporters shows Duterte requesting House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III’s approval to visit at least 16 countries between December 2025 and February 2026, a move that comes shortly after a previously approved, similar journey.
Duterte’s office confirmed the authenticity of the letter on Tuesday but maintained that it was a confidential document leaked to the media by a House office. The letter details Duterte’s planned itinerary, which includes: Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, United States, Australia, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Singapore.
“This is to request for a Travel Clearance for my upcoming travel to […the listed countries…] from the 15th of December 2025 to 20th of February, 2026,” Duterte stated in his letter to Speaker Dy.
Duterte also requested permission to attend House sessions and hearings virtually during his travels. “Rest assured that the expenses that will be incurred from this trip are from my personal funds alone,” he wrote, adding, “In addition, this is also to seek your kind indulgence in allowing this representation to attend the scheduled plenary sessions and meetings virtually from the aforementioned dates.”
Notably, this is not the first time Duterte has sought travel authority for visits to these countries. In March 2025, the House leadership approved a similar request for a trip to the same set of countries, plus Northern Ireland, from March 20 to May 10, 2025.
While the purpose of Duterte’s extensive travel plans remains unclear, his previous multi-country trip occurred shortly after reports surfaced that his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, had been arrested and taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (ICC). In March 2025, the elder Duterte was reportedly prevented from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as authorities assisted the International Criminal Police Organization in enforcing an arrest order from the ICC.
