Marilyn Cahatol

Davao City 1st District Rep.  Paolo "Pulong" Z. Duterte  attends the opening session of the 20th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

20th CONGRESS- OPENING SESSION

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte on Tuesday said lawmakers are free to investigate the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/22/24/house-panel-flags-p51-b-allocation-for-rep-paolo-duterte">P51 billion</a> budget allocation his congressional district received from 2020 to 2022.</p><p>He claimed that lawmakers&#x27; questions about the budget allocation are a &quot;diversion&quot; from flood control anomalies and involved public officials.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/marcos-jr-says-no-more-budget-for-flood-control-projects-in-2026-2044">Marcos Jr. says no more budget for flood control projects in 2026</a></div><p>“Let me say this straight, Davao has nothing to hide. Kung gusto n’yo talagang maghanap ng ghost projects under that ₱51B, sige lang, investigate it all. Ipakita ang records, tingnan ang aktwal. Nandoon ang katotohanan—mga proyektong nakikita, naitayo, at nagagamit ng mga tao sa Davao,” he said in a statement.</p><p>“Kaya huwag ninyo kaming gawing panakip-butas. Focus on the real issues -- flood control anomalies, payola, ug ang mga opisyal nga nisulti mismo nga nanuhol sila. (at ang mga opisyal na mismong umamin na nanuhol sila.)” he added.</p><p>Duterte said that “he is not like the others,” saying he once removed a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director due to a right-of-way corruption issues.</p><p>The congressman, brother of Vice President Sara Duterte and son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, alleged that the questions on Davao City’s P51 billion budget were intended to attack his family and protect lawmakers’ allies.</p><p>“Klaro na klaro na ang layunin ng diversion na ito ay saksakin ang pamilya namin at depensahan ang inyong mga alyado,” he said.</p><p>Duterte challenged lawmakers to discuss the issues surrounding House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who Curlee Discaya named as one of the lawmakers who benefited 25% from flood control projects&#x27; funds.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/curlee-discaya-denies-direct-ties-to-romualdez-co-in-alleged-corruption-scheme-1152">Curlee Discaya denies direct ties to Romualdez, Co in alleged corruption scheme</a></div><p>Romualdez <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/lawmakers-deny-discaya-corruption-claims-in-flood-control-mess-1217">denied</a> the allegations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/tiangco-reveals-talk-of-house-leadership-change-0944">Talk of House leadership change swirling, says Tiangco</a></div><p>“Huwag n’yong gamitin ang Davao at ang pamilya ko para lang ma-divert ang isyu at mailihis ang tunay na korapsyon,” he said.</p><p>Duterte also called on lawmakers to answer issues surrounding the “anomalies in DSWD (Department of Social Works and Development),&quot; DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) insertions sa mga congressmen,” as well as the PhilHealth budget and the Maharlika Fund.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/1/28/-may-nagbabantay-why-the-maharlika-fund-is-investing-in-ngcp-0857">&#x27;May nagbabantay&#x27;: Why the Maharlika Fund is investing in NGCP</a></div><p>“Huwag ninyong baliktarin lagi ang istorya at ipahid sa Duterte para lang kayo maligtas.”</p><p>The representative further dared his fellow congressmen to declare their budgets and show the public the projects in their districts.</p><p>“Huwag puro salita, ipakita ninyo ang ebidensya ng trabaho ninyo. Para makita gyud kinsa ang tinuod nga nagserbisyo ug kinsa ang nangurakot. (Para makita talaga kung sino ang totoong nagseserbisyo at sino ang nagnanakaw.)”</p><p>“Davao’s projects are built on solid ground. Makasulti ba mo ug pareho ana sa inyong mga distrito? (Maaari ba ninyong sabihin ang ganyan tungkol sa mga distrito ninyo?)” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/dpwh-s-bgc-boys-lost-p950-million-in-casinos-lacson-1547">DPWH&#x27;s &#x27;BGC Boys&#x27; lost P950 million in casinos: Lacson</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rKMy13mi1lw?si=Zcq0SvndZ7sM3z3h" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said lawmakers are free to investigate the P51 billion budget allocation his congressional district recieved from 2020 to 2022.</p>

Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said lawmakers are free to investigate the P51 billion budget allocation his congressional district recieved from 2020 to 2022.

Paolo Duterte claims lawmakers using Davao City district's P51-B budget as ‘diversion’

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Paolo Duterte claims lawmakers using Davao City district's P51-B budget as ‘diversion’

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 09, 2025 04:35 PM PHT

Read More:

Paolo Duterte

Davao City

Budget

flood control

DPWH

House of Representatives

Senate

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