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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Nag-walk out!': Paolo Duterte, 3 other Davao-based solons form independent bloc

'Nag-walk out!': Paolo Duterte, 3 other Davao-based solons form independent bloc

Published Jul 28, 2025 11:26 am  |  Updated Jul 28, 2025 01:28 pm

At A Glance

  • Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte and three other Davao-based congressmen have declared themselves as independent members of the House of Representatives.
Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte (Facebook)
Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte (Facebook)


Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte and three other Davao-based congressmen have declared themselves as independent members of the House of Representatives.
Paolo Duterte made this announcement through a press statement on Monday morning, July 28, even as the Speakership vote was ongoing during plenary session.
The three other members of this independent "Davao group" are Davao City 2nd district Rep. Omar Duterte, PPP Party-list Rep. Harold Duterte, and Davao City 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab.
Paolo Duterte and the three decided to walk out after the roll call during Monday's session and "[chose] to remain unaffiliated with either the majority or minority blocs".
“A House member who chooses not to join the majority or minority can be considered an independent member of the House,” he explained.
"I walked out after the roll call with my fellow Davao legislators because I represent the people of Davao City, not the political puppeteers nor the self-serving actors parading as public servants in Congress," he said in a Facebook post minutes later.
"I am not a Dabawenyo for nothing. I have principles. I know where I stand...I did not run for Congress to play along. I ran to represent the interests of my constituents — with honor, conviction, and the courage to walk away from what is wrong," added "Pulong".
Ungab cited historical precedent for their decision. “There are historical precedents in the Philippine Congress, U.S. Congress, and even the British Parliament where members have chosen to remain independent rather than align with either the majority or minority," he noted.
Meanwhile, Omar Duterte and Harold Duterte said that their decision reflects a dedication to serving their constituents without partisan constraints.
“Our choice to become independent members demonstrates our commitment to principled governance and our intent to serve our country and constituents free from partisan considerations,” the two neophyte solons stated.
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, was the sole congressman nominated for House Speaker in the 20th Congress.
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