DAVAO CITY – Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte lashed out at the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Monday, Sept. 22, accusing members of hypocrisy and called them “servicing the people’s coffers.”

Duterte issued the statement in response to the Makabayan bloc’s remarks that he was merely trying to draw attention away from issues hounding flood control projects in Davao City.

“From the beginning, we have clarified that we are open to any investigation. We have never claimed immunity from criticism if we committed any wrongdoing,” Duterte said in his official Facebook post.

Rep. Duterte said he secured documents from the Department of Public Works and Highways on all infrastructure projects in his district for scrutiny, but alleged that Makabayan lawmakers were diverting the issues.

“The question now is whether you are willing to investigate those who support you and your alleged New People’s Army associates, or if your scrutiny applies only when the subjects are not your allies,” the lawmaker said.

He challenged them to present evidence and probe all irregularities, including their alleged benefactors, instead of resorting to scripted diversions. “That is not pro-people; that is selfish.”

Militant congressmen denounced corruption before a rally in Manila on Sunday and urged them to protest.

“You call yourselves the Makabayan bloc, but nothing in your actions reflects service to the nation. Stop hiding behind slogans, the people already see through the hypocrisy,” Duterte said.

Duterte has also criticized Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante who noted that Davao City still faces flooding despite receiving a budget for infrastructure under then President Rodrigo Duterte.

The lawmaker defended the integrity of infrastructure projects in his district. He said the DPWH-11 has already clarified P49.8-billion worth of projects in Davao and stressed that all these were “properly accounted for.”