VP Sara paid for own trips abroad, but P7.5M spent on security, staff

The Office of the Vice President said that Vice President Sara Duterte has been paying for her foreign trips using personal funds, but confirmed that her office has so far disbursed P7.47 million this year for the travel of her security and staff.

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Kelvin Gerome Tenido, OVP budget division chief, told reporters on Thursday, September 11, that while Duterte shoulders her own and her family’s expenses abroad, public funds cover the costs of the security personnel assigned to her.

“All the travel overseas of the Vice President is covered by a travel authority and did not include any public funds," Tenido said at a press conference a day before the OVP is set to defend its budget at the House of Representatives.

"The P7.47 million was utilized for the security personnel of the OVP, and including the close-in or the civilian personnel," he added.