TITLE: SHOCKING AND CONTROVERSIAL: WERE SARA DUTERTE AND IMEE MARCOS KICKED OUT OF AUSTRALIA?

MELBOURNE, Australia – In recent days, the personal visit of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos to Australia has sparked a storm of controversy within the Filipino-Australian community and among local media.

According to human rights groups representing Filipinos in Australia, at least 16 organizations co-signed a letter addressed to Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs opposing the visit. The letter described the presence of Duterte and Marcos as “a direct threat to Australia’s social cohesion and democratic values.”

The rights groups emphasized that the trip appeared to be part of a carefully orchestrated political campaign aimed at supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte and bolstering Sara Duterte’s positioning for a potential presidential run in 2028. Critics also slammed the visit as a misuse of government resources, yielding no tangible benefit to the Filipino nation.

However, the Office of the Vice President stated that the trip was strictly “personal” and that no government funds were used. Still, many observers have questioned the transparency of that claim, especially considering that the visit involved a full entourage—security staff, aides, secretaries, and photographers—all of whom are salaried through public funds.

Tensions within the Filipino community in Australia have intensified, with some accusing the Duterte camp of using the “Free Duterte” rally as a tool to agitate and mobilize overseas voters, rather than focusing on productive goals such as attracting foreign investment or promoting Philippine tourism.

The biggest question now is: Was this truly a personal trip—or a disguised political campaign tour? And who will be held accountable for the damage done to the country’s image on the international stage?