Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo ‘Pulong’ Duterte on Monday hit back the Makabayan bloc and accused the militant group of diverting issues and shielding their alleged allies.
“Bobo ka ba? From the very start, sinabi na namin — we are open to any investigation. Kailan ba namin sinabi na hindi kami pwedeng tirahin kung may mali? Never. Ako na nga mismo ang kumuha at nag documento sa DPWH ng mga projects dito sa distrito ko para imbestigahan ninyu pero pilit niyo pa rin nililihis ang mga issue,” Duterte said in a statement dated September 22, 2025.
Duterte issued the statement after the Makabayan bloc responded to his tirades issued on Sunday saying the group was just drawing attention and trying to divert the issue because flood control project scams are also being raised in Davao.
The lawmaker emphasized that he had already submitted and documented his district’s projects to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure transparency, yet questioned why the bloc persisted in criticizing him.
He challenged the group to produce concrete evidence and push for investigations across the board, including against what he described as their “bosses who are eating the people’s money.”
“Ang tanong ngayon, kaya niyo ba imbestigahan ang mga nagpapakain sa inyo at sa mga kasamahan niyong NPA terrorists? O hanggang salita lang kayo kapag kakampi ninyo ang tinutumbok?” he said.
Duterte added that what the Makabayan Bloc is doing cannot be considered patriotism.
“Kung tunay kayong Makabayan, maglabas kayo ng ebidensya at imbestigahan lahat — pati ang mga amo ninyong kumakain ng pera ng bayan. Otherwise, malinaw lang na diversion at scripted ang ginagawa ninyo. Hindi yan makabayan, makasarili yan,” he said.
