DAVAO CITY – Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte urged Filipinos on Monday, Sept. 15, to demand transparency in Department of Public Works and Highways projects.

Duterte said that genuine accountability should not be left to a “few” or lawmakers he accused of grandstanding.

“If we are truly interested in genuine transparency and accountability, it is not just the job of a few people or those grandstanding in Congress,” Duterte said.

The Davao City lawmaker has questioned the impartiality of the House tri-committee and asserted that the panel is controlled by outside interests.

“I personally do not trust the so-called tri-comm because it is very clear that they have a master pulling the strings," he said.

He encouraged people to ask DPWH about infrastructure projects in their area.

Rep. Duterte said the public should not allow self-proclaimed lawmakers to decide what to investigate.

He said that Filipinos have the right to inquire about this matter.

“We, the Filipino people, all have the right to ask and to investigate whether the projects allocated for our areas were truly implemented and completed,” Duterte said.

“Why? Are you in the tri-comm the only ones who know better? Do we really need a tri-comm to know whether the people’s money went to actual projects?” Duterte said.

He reiterated his call for citizens to conduct their own inquiries, ask for the lists of infrastructure projects from DPWH offices, and “expose the truth about these contractors and ''tongressmen.''

Duterte defended his family and his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, targeted by what he described as a politically motivated investigation.

“Filipinos are not stupid. Everyone knows this inquiry is being conducted only to destroy the name of the former Chief Executive and our family,” Duterte said.