FALSE: Malacañang Travel Clearance for VP Sara Duterte’s Alleged Laos Trip

Kristine Claire Edaga 

A Facebook post claims that Vice President Sara Duterte traveled to Laos from September 29 to 30, 2026, based on an alleged travel clearance issued by Malacañang. The post links the alleged trip to the October 1 seizure of 521 kilograms of shabu in Laos. 

CLAIM:

The post claims that:

• Vice President Sara Duterte traveled to Laos from September 29 to 30, 2026.
• Malacañang issued a travel clearance authorizing the alleged trip.
• On October 1, authorities seized 521 kilograms of shabu worth approximately ₱3.5 billion at Luang Prabang International Airport. The post questions whether the timing of Duterte’s alleged trip and the drug seizure was merely a coincidence. 

RATING: FALSE

CONCLUSION: 

Malacañang denied issuing a travel authority for Duterte for the dates cited, and although the drug seizure in Laos was real, available evidence does not establish that Duterte traveled there or was connected to the shipment.

THE FACTS:

• The Office of the Executive Secretary denied issuing the travel authority allegedly authorizing Duterte’s trip to Laos. 
• Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, the office’s records showed that no request had been made and no travel authority had been issued for the dates cited.
• Duterte also denied the document’s authenticity, describing the purported travel authority as fabricated.
• The 521-kilogram shabu seizure in Laos was real. Authorities intercepted the shipment at Luang Prabang International Airport. 
• On October 1, Lao authorities seized 521 kilograms of suspected shabu at Luang Prabang International Airport. However, no evidence presented links Duterte to the drug shipment or confirms that she traveled to Laos. 

THE BOTTOMLINE: 

Malacañang denied issuing the alleged travel clearance, and its records showed no request had been made for Duterte’s trip to Laos. The circulating document therefore lacks official confirmation of authorization.