Manila, March 12 -- Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday said the travel authority of Vice President Sara Duterte to The Hague in the Netherlands was issued by the Office of the President (OP).

"The Office of the President issued a travel authority to VP Sara as of last night (Tuesday) 8 p.m.," Castro told reporters.

However, she said the PCO was not "immediately updated" about the supposed travel "as the information was initially disclosed only to limited people due to the unusual urgency and the confidentiality of the document."

The Office of the Vice President earlier said Duterte departed Manila at around 7:40 a.m. of Wednesday, via Emirates Flight EK 337, boun...