Paolo Duterte gets House OK to travel to multiple countries

Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte —Photo from the Davao City Public Information Office

MANILA, Philippines  — The House of Representatives has given Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte travel clearance for his trip to different countries including the Netherlands, China, Japan, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and some Asean member-states.

Sources shared photos of the travel clearance, issued by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, with reporters on Tuesday. The clearance covers Duterte’s travels from March 20 to May 10, 2025.

The following are included in Duterte’s travel clearance:

Hong Kong
People’s Republic of China
Malaysia
Indonesia
Republic of Korea
Japan
Vietnam
Cambodia
United States of America
Australia
United Kingdom of Great Britain
Northern Ireland
the Netherlands
Germany
France
Belgium
Italy
Singapore

A House official, who requested anonymity, confirmed the authenticity of the travel clearance.

READ: House grants Rep. Paolo Duterte travel authority to Netherlands

Last March 12, Velasco’s office also gave a travel authority to Duterte, for him to fly off to the Netherlands and Japan from March 12 to 15.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte was stopped from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last March 11 after local authorities assisted the International Criminal Police Organization in enforcing an arrest order from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

READ: Rodrigo Duterte now under police custody 

After questioning his arrest, the former president eventually boarded a chartered plane from Villamor Air Base to The Hague, Netherlands, where the ICC is based.

The arrest order was issued over crimes against humanity charges linked to Duterte’s role in the bloody drug war.

While in Hong Kong, Duterte claimed his actions during the war on illegal drugs were for the country’s benefit.

However, several official and independent investigations revealed numerous instances where innocent individuals were caught in anti-drug operations.