Vice President Sara Duterte came to the defense of her brother, Davao City Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, amid a criminal complaint filed against him, alleging physical injury and grave threats. She claimed the case was a politically motivated move by the Marcos administration aimed at discrediting their family.
In a GMA News Online report, Duterte pointed fingers at the current administration, accusing it of targeting political opponents to distract the public from its own controversies. “Every time there’s a serious issue involving them, they deflect by attacking their political rivals,” she said.
Sara Duterte clarified that she had yet to speak with her brother about the matter and wasn’t sure if their father, former President Rodrigo Duterte—currently detained at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity—had been informed.
The complaint stemmed from an incident on February 23 at a bar in Davao City, where a businessman claimed Pulong assaulted him for two hours and even threatened him with a knife. Charges were filed under Articles 265 and 282 of the Revised Penal Code.
In a video posted on Facebook, Pulong addressed the circulating footage indirectly, saying in Cebuano, “To my fellow Davaoeños, you’ve seen another video. It happened a while back. It’s still your choice who to vote for in the first district. I won’t interfere.”
Malacañang, through Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, said it would issue a proper response on Monday. “We will respond intelligently, without resorting to gutter language,” she noted.
