DAVAO CITY – Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte bared on Sunday, January 28, that most members of the House of Representatives feel intimidated by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
REP. Duterte (Keith Bacongco)
In the candlelight prayer rally at San Pedro Square here, Duterte recalled working with former House Speakers Pantaleon Alvarez, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Lord Allan Velasco. But he said this was the first time he had witnessed Congress members afraid of their Speaker.
“Ngano man na? Nganong mahadlok man? Hadlok mo matanggal pagka-congressman parehas sa gibuhat kang Arnie Teves? (Why is that? Why are you afraid? Are you scared of being ousted as a congressman, like what happened to Arnie Teves?)” Duterte asked.
Last year, the House, voting 265-0 with three abstentions, expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., citing disorderly behavior and his prolonged absence despite an expired travel authorization. Teves was the prime suspect in the murder of Gov. Roel Degamo last year.
Duterte said that Davao City Reps. Vincent J. Garcia and Isidro T. Ungab and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who were present at the peace rally, are not cowardly members of Congress.
“Didto pud ko padulong sigurado. Giandaman nako anang partry-list na babae dira. Nagtuo siyang wala ko kabalo (I’m definitely going there as well. A party-list woman prepared for it. She thinks I am unaware),” Duterte said.
The lawmaker said he believes his adversaries are just waiting for him to speak up. He added that since he released a statement opposing People’s Initiative to amend the constitution, his political adversaries began attacking him with various issues.
He earlier said that someone informed him that Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles is spearheading the PI here which she denied.
“Akong asawa na suko. Na luoy ko sa akong mga anak kay makit-an nila sa ilang Instagram gasugod na pud bigay ang mga kalaban (My wife is upset. I feel sorry for my children because they can now see on their Instagram that our political adversaries have started their attacks again),” he said.
Among the issues hurled by Duterte’s adversaries against him were his alleged involvement with illegal drugs and receiving P51 billion in funds. The lawmaker denied these claims and said these people are making issues thinking he would run for senator.
“Ako na luoy ko ani akong mga anak. Sa pila katuig sige’g sulti nga ako adik. Naa bay adik na ingon ani ang itsura (I feel sorry for my children. For many years, people have been saying that I am an addict. Does an addict look like this?)” Duterte said.
“Kanang Facebook binayran na, makita nimo sponsored. Unsay mugawas sa akong baba karon ila ng gamiton against sa akoa (Those in Facebook were paid. You can see it as sponsored. Whatever comes out of mouth, they will use it against me),” he added.
Duterte reiterated that he has no intention of running for senator. He said he was surprised that his name is constantly included in surveys for the 2025 senatorial elections and that being a senator is tiring.
He said some people here, especially those from a party-list, rush to become the city mayor, thus creating stories. The lawmaker advised his political adversaries to wait for the election.
Duterte thanked all supporters of the Duterte family and reminded everyone not to sell their souls for a certain amount in exchange for their signature.
He said the proposed PI was not the people’s voice but the voice of those who wanted to perpetuate themselves in power.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) noted that more than 50,000 leaders and supporters of the Duterte family from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao joined the rally that ended at around 10:30 p.m. Police reported no untoward incident.