Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Tuesday slammed the House’s probe into the controversial flood control projects, saying it has become a “political diversion.”
In a statement, he urged his critics to stop dragging the Dutertes into the issue and to concentrate on addressing the real problems of flood control anomalies and bribery.
“Unsa man ning klase nga hearing? Klaro kaayo nga naa nay DPWH officials and resource persons nga nisulti mismo nga naghatag silag payola to certain officials of government, pero unsay nahitabo? Kalit lang gi-divert ang isyu. Instead of pressing them for accountability, naay uban kongresista sama ni Rep. Chua nga gihimo pang isyu ang P51 billion nga budget para sa Davao City during my father’s presidency,” Duterte said.
During the House infrastructure committee hearing on Tuesday, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral confirmed the recent report that the district of Duterte in Davao City received around P51 billion of infrastructure projects over the last three years of the administration of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua criticized the timing, noting that this happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Duterte kayo nang Duterte! I challenge the Filipino people — do a background check on all Makabayan bloc congressmen. Ug kamo pud mga tiga Luzon, tan-awa inyong mga congressman. Ayaw pirmi tutok sa Davao—nasa inyo mismo ang baha ug basura. Kilatisa ninyo ang IRA allocations sa inyong local governments,” Duterte said.
Duterte dared his critics, including specific congressmen from Luzon, to be accountable for the corruption in their own districts and to check the real issues and acknowledge corruption.
He also lambasted them for using the Dutertes as a “cover-up” for their own mess.
“Never ako nakialam sa mga budget hearing sa Kamara. Kahit tanungin niyo pa yung mga nagdaang Speaker. May delicadeza ako. Hindi kagaya ngayon na mismo magkakamag-anak ang naglalaro sa budget,” Duterte said.
Duterte dared the InfraComm to go back to the discussion with Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
“Balik niyo yan sa usapang Martin Romualdez at Zaldy Co para may maniwala sa inyo, InfraComm. Ayaw gamita ang Davao ug among pamilya para lang ma-divert ang issue ug malihis ang tunay nga korapsyon,” Duterte said.
Duterte also challenged InfraComm that if it is really serious about the investigation, it should answer questions: what happened to the anomalies in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) insertions among the congressmen, about the billions in PhilHealth, and what happened to the Maharlika Fund.
“Ayaw pirmi balihon ang istorya ug ipahid sa Duterte para lang mo maluwas. Hinahamon ko lahat ng congressman — ilabas niyo lahat ng budget ninyo at ipakita sa taumbayan ang mga proyekto ninyo sa distrito ninyo. Huwag puro salita, ipakita ninyo ang ebidensya ng trabaho ninyo. Para makita gyud kinsa ang tinuod nga nagserbisyo ug kinsa ang nangurakot,” he stated.
Duterte affirmed Davao City has nothing to hide.
“Kung gusto gyud mo mangita ug ghost projects under that P51B, sige lang, investigate it all. Ipakita ang records, tan-awa ang ground. The truth is there—mga proyekto nga makita, natukod, ug nagamit sa katawhan sa Davao,” he said.
Duterte said it is very clear that the goal of this diversion is to attack his family and defend Romualdez’s allies.
“Pero ako mismo dili pareho sa uban nga sigeg yawyaw lang. I even requested the removal of a DPWH regional director tungod sa right-of-way corruption issues. That’s on record. So ayaw mi gamita as panakip-butas. Stop dragging the Dutertes to cover up your mess. Focus on the real issues — flood control anomalies, payola, ug ang mga opisyal nga nisulti mismo nga nanuhol sila,” he said.
Duterte assured Davao’s projects are built on solid ground.
“Makasulti ba mo ug pareho ana sa inyong mga distrito?” he said.
