Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said President Duterte鈥檚 directive to Cabinet officials against travel to the United States does not cover Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., to allow diplomatic relations to continue. The Department of Foreign Affairs official left for the United States over the weekend.
Panelo also noted that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio鈥檚 recent visit to the United States was a study tour sponsored by the US state department itself.
鈥淢aybe the members of the [Duterte] family will do likewise in deference to the father,鈥� the Palace official said.
Otherwise, he added, the President鈥檚 travel ban on Cabinet officials covers even their personal and family trips.
Foreign Assistant Secretary Eduardo Me帽ez confirmed Panelo鈥檚 statement on Locsin鈥檚 trip: 鈥淚 believe it has been clarified that SFA [Secretary of Foreign Affairs] is exempted from the ban,鈥� he said.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the directive against US trips applied only to Cabinet secretaries, since subordinate officials would still be allowed to attend 鈥渋mportant official鈥� meetings in the United States.
Adverse consequences
The President鈥檚 travel directive came following his call to terminate the country鈥檚 Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, after it revoked Sen. Ronald dela Rosa鈥檚 entry visa last week.
The travel ban, warned Sen. Panfilo Lacson in a text message, 鈥渃ould have adverse consequences on our country鈥檚 economy and security, not to mention the many employed Filipino immigrants there, especially if the US retaliates [after] the recent tirades of President Duterte.鈥�
鈥淐onsidering all these, I hope some of the Cabinet members will have the courage and sensibility to speak to the President to reconsider,鈥� Lacson added. 鈥擶ITH REPORTS FROM LEILA B. SALAVERRIA, JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE AND DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN