Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte has challenged ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio to visit Davao and see for himself the flood control projects that the latter flagged for alleged irregularities.
In a statement issued Wednesday night, Duterte dismissed Tinio’s claims as “political drama,” saying the city’s projects have been verified and audited by proper agencies. “We build, we deliver, we protect our people — while others just talk and pretend to investigate,” he said. “Come to Davao, walk the riverbanks, see the projects, and talk to the people whose homes no longer flood because of those structures.”
Duterte said all flood control structures along the Davao and Matina Rivers were implemented and inspected by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Commission on Audit (COA). “They are not ‘ghosts’ — unlike the kind of politics some people keep reviving every time they need attention,” he added.
Tinio earlier claimed his team found “red flags” in 80 out of 120 flood control projects along the two rivers, reportedly worth over ₱4 billion. He cited several categories of alleged anomalies, including overlapping contracts, double funding, altered locations, missing project details, and projects without corresponding budget allocations in the General Appropriations Act.
The ACT Teachers lawmaker said these findings were based on official documents obtained from the DPWH, its website, and the National Expenditures Program from 2019 to 2022. He insisted the data warranted an investigation.
The exchange between the two legislators follows a previous spat over the controversial Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project. Duterte accused Tinio of being “selectively silent” about alleged corruption under the current administration, while Tinio countered that Duterte could “Google” Makabayan’s consistent record of opposing misuse of public funds.
