MANILA – Vic President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s trip to Germany with her family on Wednesday was a personal trip and was approved by the Office of the President.
In a statement sent to Panay News, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said it was just unfortunate that the trip coincided with Typhoon Carina’s battering in the country.
“The Vice President is on a personal trip with her family overseas,” the OVP statement read. “The timing of the trip coinciding with Typhoon Carina is unfortunate.”
“Her departure received the necessary approvals, as evidenced by the travel authority issued by the Office of the President dated 09 July 2024,” it added. “We thank the public for respecting the privacy of the other members of the family.”
Duterte-Carpio, along with her husband Manases Carpio, their children, and her mother Elizabeth Abellana-Zimmerman, boarded Emirates flight EK-335 to Dubai, which took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport around 12:30 a.m.
From Dubai, Duterte-Carpio and her group boarded a connecting flight to Munich, Germany on Wednesday afternoon.
In a report by One News, citing a source, it said the family trip was “long planned and booked” and it was “not a spur-of-the-moment decision to take vacation.”
The Duterte-Carpios were reportedly visiting the Zimmerman side of their family in Munich, Germany.
The OVP said, even with Duterte-Carpio’s absence, relief efforts were underway in view of the onslaught of ‘Carina’-enhanced habagat through its Disaster Operations Center (DOC).
“Nonetheless, the Disaster Operations Center of the OVP, institutionalized by the Vice President, is always ready to assist families affected by calamities,” the statement read./PN
