DAVAO CITY – Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat Rep. Harold Duterte urged fellow government officials to set aside politics and focus on assisting Filipinos affected by recent disasters.

“In the past week alone, our fellow Filipinos have faced one tragedy after another. Filipinos are dying. Let us not stand idly by when we have the power, the means, and the mandate to help,” Duterte said in a statement.

Duterte cited a chemical spill in Negros Oriental on Oct. 30 that affected about 4,500 families and 3,000 fishermen who now face uncertainty in their livelihoods. He also pointed to an incident on Nov. 1 in Cebu.

The lawmaker expressed grief over the recent typhoon that struck parts of the Visayas that killed several persons and affected thousands of people.

“These are not mere statistics,” Duterte said. “These are lives, families mourning, communities struggling, and livelihoods destroyed.”

Duterte criticized “political mudslinging” amid ongoing relief and recovery efforts.

Public officials should prioritize the needs of affected communities.

“At a time when our people are literally fighting for survival, it is both tone-deaf and deeply irresponsible to engage in political theatrics. We were elected to serve, not to grandstand while others suffer,” he said.

Duterte urged national and local agencies to coordinate in delivering aid, restoring livelihoods, and ensuring long-term support for affected families.

“Let us focus on helping our countrymen weather these storms, both literal and figurative,” Duterte said.