Vice President Sara Duterte has defended her recent foreign travels, citing overseas Filipino communities’ growing frustration over the state of the country.
In an interview with the Davao media on Monday, Duterte explained the reason she needed to travel overseas in recent months.
“And sa totoo lang, hindi naman ako nag-travel dahil gusto ko mag-travel. Nag-travel ako, lumalabas ako ng bansa dahil frustrated na ang Filipino communities abroad sa nangyayari dito sa ating bayan,” she said.
Duterte’s response followed ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio’s criticism of her frequent trips, calling it “paglamyerda.”
She said that they should also reveal the travels of the members of the House of Representatives before criticizing her.
“Nilabas din siguro ni — sino ‘yan siya? O, that person kung kinsa man na siya. Ilabas din siguro nila yung travels ng mga members of the House of Representatives bago sila magtuturo ng mga tao na constant travel,” Duterte said.
Duterte added that she is also visiting her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague, Netherlands.
“At pangalawa, bumibisita ako sa tatay ko na nakakulong,” she said.
Since March this year, Duterte has been in The Hague three times, first to visit her father and his defense team from March to April. She also spent her birthday with FPRRD from May to June, and again, visited him in July.
From The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte visited Qatar, Malaysia, and Australia, along with South Korea, to meet the Filipino communities before going back to the Philippines.
