LIST: VP Sara Duterte’s foreign trips in 2025

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte has received criticisms for her constant foreign trips – from her personal visits to her detained father in the Netherlands to attending engagements with Filipinos abroad.

Duterte previously dismissed critics and said one reason she’s travelling is to hear the supposed frustration of Filipino communities abroad.

The Palace, however, rejected this reason, saying traveling will not solve the problems.

NewsWatch Plus looked back on Duterte’s trips for 2025, based on advisories shared by her office and available materials published by the media.

Three Netherlands trips

Duterte has visited the Netherlands thrice since March to see her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was brought to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face murder charges for crimes against humanity related to his bloody drug war.

The vice president first arrived in the country on March 13 and returned on April 6.

Her next visit was on May 30 – weeks after the 2025 elections, where five out of the 12 senatorial candidates she backed won. She came back to Manila on June 5 amid tense debates on the fate of her impeachment trial.

Duterte then returned to the Netherlands in July for over two weeks. 

Eight other destinations

Aside from the Netherlands, the vice president has so far gone to eight other foreign destinations in 2025.

1. In January, Duterte went to Japan for a private trip. On February 12, her sister, Kitty, posted photos of them together in Japan - a week after the vice president was impeached by the House of Representatives. However, it was unclear if Kitty’s photos were old ones or were posted in real time. 

2. Prior to the former president’s arrest on March 11, the vice president met their supporters in a campaign sortie for the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino candidates in Hong Kong on March 9. She returned on the day her father was arrested and brought to the ICC.

3. Duterte met the Filipino community in Doha, Qatar on May 26. She was seen with presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos, whom she endorsed in the elections.

4. On June 10, her office said Duterte was on a personal trip to Malaysia. She attended an Independence Day Celebration there on June 12, alongside Sen. Imee Marcos and Sen. Robin Padilla – who were among the senator judges who voted to remand the articles of impeachment against Duterte to the House of Representatives.

5. After over a week, Duterte was in Australia for a personal trip where she attended another rally for her family, calling for the release of her father from ICC detention. She returned on June 24. 

6. After her trip to The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte met their family’s supporters in South Korea on July 27.

7. On Aug. 15, the vice president visited Kuwait for what her office described as a “gathering to discuss concerns and issues impacting their sector.” The OVP also maintained that no public funds were used for all her foreign travels. 

8. Three days later, Duterte met Filipinos in Paris, France.

In total, the vice president made 11 trips in the last eight months. The figure below shows Duterte took two international trips each in March, May, June, July, and August.

In a statement on Aug. 15, the OVP said Duterte’s “official engagements are conducted in full compliance with existing government rules and regulations, ensuring that her presence abroad is both lawful and aligned with her responsibilities in public service.”

House deputy minority leader and ACT Teacher’s party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio earlier said Duterte will continue to face scrutiny over her fund use and performance, including what he called the vice president’s habitual absence.