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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Rep. Paolo Duterte slams Rep. Sandro Marcos

Rep. Paolo Duterte slams Rep. Sandro Marcos

Published Sep 18, 2025 05:42 pm
REP. Paolo Duterte (FB)
REP. Paolo Duterte (FB)
DAVAO CITY – Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte fired back at Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos on Thursday, Sept. 18, and defended the integrity of infrastructure projects in his district and accused the presidential son of ignoring the public’s clamor for accountability.
House Majority Leader Rep. Marcos denied claims that he picked Isabela sixth district Rep. Faustino Dy III as new House Speaker. He said Rep. Duterte would know if he showed up at work and attended sessions.
The House majority leader criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte’s son, and said that he should focus on tracking down the P51 billion in infrastructure funds allotted to his district during the final three years of his father’s administration.
In a strongly worded statement, Rep. Duterte said the Department of Public Works and Highways-11 has already clarified P49.8 billion worth of projects in Davao City and stressed that all these were “properly accounted for.”
“If only the gentleman from Ilocos were not blind and deaf to the clamor of our people — a clamor drowned by the influence of money and power — he would know that DPWH-11 has already clarified that the P49.8-billion worth of projects in Davao City are all accounted for,” Rep. Duterte said.
Rep. Duterte, who categorically denied allegations of irregularities in his district, said he sincerely hopes Rep. Marcos can show the same transparency in his district. “There are no ghost projects here. However, the people are asking for your receipts,” he added.
The Davao City lawmaker explained his irregular attendance in congressional sessions, attributing it not to neglect but to what he described as the “unbearable stench of graft and corruption” within the House of Representatives.
Rep. Duterte challenged Rep. Marcos to focus on investigating what he called the “trillions plundered and cartelized” by his uncle, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, so the amount may be returned to the national treasury where they rightfully belong.
He suggested that both Rep. Marcos and his father, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., undergo hair follicle drug test.
“And if you are truly clean, gentleman, you and your father should first take a hair follicle drug test –
not a secret one, like your friend in Davao,” the Davao City lawmaker said.
Rep. Duterte earlier claimed that the House Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) was deflecting scrutiny from corruption charges involving certain officials by focusing instead on projects in Davao City.
He said he never interfered in past budget hearings, even when previous House Speakers sought his involvement. He added that, unlike today, family members were not “playing around” with the budget.
Rep. Duterte said that if Congress is serious, they should also investigate anomalies in the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, PhilHealth, and the Maharlika Fund instead of “twisting the story” and blaming his family.
Rep. Duterte also urged the public to check the backgrounds of the other lawmakers, especially those from the Makabayan bloc, and scrutinize their local governments’ Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

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Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte Rep. Sandro Marcos
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