Davao City First District Rep. Paolo 'Pulong' Duterte has again sought House approval for a nearly two-month trip across 17 countries, without specifying a purpose. The journey, from December 15, 2025, to February 20, 2026, will be funded by his personal resources. This mirrors his earlier March request this year.
In a one-page letter dated December 1, Pulong requested Speaker Faustino Dy III to issue a travel clearance for his upcoming journey to Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, the US, Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Singapore. 'Rest assured that the expenses that will be incurred from this trip are from my personal funds alone,' he wrote. He also sought permission to attend plenary sessions and meetings virtually during those dates.
This marks the second such request this year. In March, then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez approved his extension for a trip from March 20 to May 10 across the same 17 countries. It began after he accompanied his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, on March 11, when their father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested and taken to The Hague for trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Initially, he sought a revised clearance for March 12 to April 15, later expanded to May 10. On March 17, he filed another for a personal trip to London and China from March 17 to April 20, covering Holy Week.
Meanwhile, ICC-accredited lawyer Gilbert Andres, speaking on One News' 'Storycon,' said the conclusions from three medical experts examining Rodrigo Duterte have been submitted and will be posted on the ICC website. Stakeholders' submissions are due December 12. The experts assessed medical conditions affecting his participation in proceedings, not 'fitness to stand trial.' An arrest warrant could reach Philippine authorities via Interpol and Republic Act 9851.