Cebu Fifth District Representative Duke Frasco has defended his recent trip to London, saying it was part of an authorized official mission and not a personal vacation.
This is following administrative and criminal complaints filed against him and seven Cebu mayors before the Office of the Ombudsman–Visayas.
“The complaint recently filed before the Office of the Ombudsman is founded on erroneous assumptions and misrepresentations of fact and law,” Frasco said in a statement released Tuesday.
He explained that his travel was part of the Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market (WTM), one of the world’s largest global tourism expositions.
The event provides a platform to promote international partnerships, investments, and opportunities for the country’s tourism sector.
Frasco clarified that his trip was approved by the Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Secretary-General, following official procedures for congressional missions abroad.
He also emphasized that no government funds were used for the travel, consistent with his practice on most foreign official trips.
Frasco said he arrived in London on November 4 but immediately booked a return flight after learning of severe flooding in Cebu.
He returned on November 6 and went directly to Barangay Cotcot, Liloan, to assist local and national officials in relief and coordination efforts.
Regarding other local officials named in the complaints, Frasco noted that their travel authorities were granted by the Governor of Cebu, who legally oversees municipal mayors, and that only the provincial government can cancel such travel.
He rejected allegations of neglecting statutory duties under the Local Government Code and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, calling them “legally misplaced.”
“As a legislator, my constitutional duties encompass representation, lawmaking, and oversight,” Frasco said.
“Yet in times of crisis, I always try to extend whatever support and assistance I can offer to my constituents, even personally funding relief, which my team immediately mobilized,” he added.
Frasco assured that he will continue coordinating with national government agencies to deliver relief, rehabilitation, and recovery assistance to affected communities in Cebu.
