Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte fired back at Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte First District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos over the latter’s tirades on ghost projects in Davao City.
Duterte on Thursday hit back at Marcos, defending the integrity of infrastructure projects in Davao City and criticizing what he called widespread corruption in Congress.
Duterte said the P49.8 billion worth of projects in Davao City under the Department of Public Works and Highways 11 (DPWH 11) have already been clarified and “are all properly accounted for.”
“If only the gentleman from Ilocos were not blind and deaf to the clamor of our people — a clamor drowned by the influence of money and power — he would know that DPWH Region XI has already clarified the P49.8 billion worth of projects in Davao City. All are properly accounted for. I sincerely hope the same transparency can be shown in his own district. WALANG GHOST PROJECTS DITO! Di ako naghahanap, pero ang taumbayan hinahapan kayo ng resibo,” Duterte said in a statement.
The heated word war erupted after Marcos rejected Duterte’s claim that he orchestrated the selection of Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III as the new House Speaker, replacing former Speaker Martin Romualdez, who stepped down on Tuesday, noting that Dy is both his party-mate and an administration ally.
Marcos said that while such practices may have been the approach during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, it is not how he conducts his work.
He added that if Duterte were more present in sessions, he would be aware of these matters.
Duterte also explained his absence in congressional sessions, saying it was not neglect of duty but due to the “stench of graft and corruption” that he claimed has overtaken the House of Representatives.
“I have refrained from regularly attending sessions not out of neglect, but because the stench of graft and corruption has become unbearable within these very halls. It is an environment that suffocates true public service,” he said.
Duterte further challenged Marcos to focus on accounting for “the trillions plundered” by his uncle, Romualdez, and Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, asserting these should be returned to the national treasury.
“Perhaps the gentleman’s time would be better spent in helping account for the trillions so expertly plundered and cartelized by his uncle, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, and by Congressman Zaldy Co, so that these may be returned to the national treasury where they rightfully belong,” he added.
Duterte also challenged Marcos and his father, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to undergo a hair follicle drug test, adding they should not be “secretive, like [their] best friend in Davao.”
“At kung tunay kang malinis, gentle-man, magpa hair follicle drug test kaya muna kayo ng daddy mo — huwag yung tago ha, gaya ng bff mo sa Davao,” he said.
