Palace to lawmakers: Work, don’t go on tour

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December 19, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang called on legislators to craft laws that would benefit the public instead of going on a world tour, apparently referring to the plan of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte to travel to 17 countries.

“In order for the county to achieve development, all of us should work. Lawmakers are obliged to create good laws for the country and the people,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a text message Wednesday night.

“If a public servant only goes on vacation or world tour, he won’t understand anything and he won’t do anything but avoid the corruption issue he is facing. Remember, the ones in Congress are compensated even if they are having a vacation or are hiding. The money of the people are wasted on people like them,” Castro added.

Duterte had sought clearance from the House of Representatives to travel to 17 countries from Dec. 15, 2025 to Feb. 20, 2026.

He has amended the request, reducing the number of destinations to two and shortening the travel period, which will now start on Jan. 3 and end on Jan. 30.

Duterte earlier claimed that state funds are being weaponized by administration allies.

He criticized the alleged bloating of discretionary funds in the 2026 national budget, saying P63.9 billion would be spent “like there is no tomorrow” even if no one has been held accountable for the flood control mess.

The lawmaker said the true culprits behind the scandal should be charged instead of creating another source of funds that may be lost to corruption.

He added that although the funds for flood control have been removed, they were transferred to the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, a program that he claimed is being used as a “political weapon” by Malacañang’s allies.