Recto: Giving travel authority day before trip usually happens

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Friday that there's nothing unusual with giving the travel authority a day before the trip of a government official.

Recto was asked to comment on the remarks made by Vice President Sara Duterte that  her travel request was approved at the last minute.

She said her travel plans have "changed" and that she will be sending a new request to the Office of the President (OP), citing the last-minute issuance of the travel authority.

''Sa dami ng mga travel authority, nangyayari talaga 'yan na a day before nailalabas natin,'' Recto said.

(As there are many travel authority, it usually happens that we issued it a day before the trip.)

According to the document signed by Recto, Duterte was allowed to travel to The Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom from April 23 to May 15 "while on leave of absence, at no cost to the government."

In response, Duterte said the OP would soon receive a new request.

''Please ensure that the necessary documents be processed and issued promptly, allowing sufficient time for travel preparations rather than only a few hours before the intended departure," Duterte said.

Malacañang has denied that Duterte's travel request was approved at the last minute. — BAP, GMA News