MANILA – Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte has revised his controversial travel authority request, scaling back from an initial 17-country itinerary spanning two months to just two destinations—the Netherlands and Australia—from January 3 to January 30, 2026. The amendment, submitted on December 15, 2025, comes amid public scrutiny and House evaluations, with the stated purpose being family visits: seeing his detained father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague, and his daughter studying in Australia.
The House Office of the Secretary General confirmed receipt of the revised letter, noting all expenses will be shouldered personally. Executive Director Jose Marmoi Salonga said the request is under review per House rules, considering session schedules.
Duterte’s original December 1 request—for travel from December 15, 2025, to February 20, 2026, covering Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, the US, UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Singapore, and others—drew backlash as a potential “world tour” during congressional duties. The congressman defended it as standard procedure listing possible transits, similar to his March 2025 multi-country clearance (also including visits to his father post-ICC arrest).
The scaled-back plan addresses overlap concerns with House sessions and quells speculation, though it reignites focus on the family’s ICC ties—former President Duterte remains in custody at The Hague for crimes against humanity charges related to the drug war.
As evaluations continue, the amendment shifts the narrative from extravagance to family obligation, pending final House approval.
Revised Travel Snapshot:
| Aspect | Original Request (Dec 1) | Amended Request (Dec 15) |
|---|---|---|
| Destinations | 17 (Asia, Europe, US, Australia) | 2 (Netherlands, Australia) |
| Period | Dec 15, 2025 – Feb 20, 2026 | Jan 3 – Jan 30, 2026 |
| Purpose | Not specified | Visit father in The Hague; daughter in Australia |
| Funding | Personal | Personal |
| Status | Under review (revised) | Under evaluation |