Davao City First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte has escalated his criticism of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), formally declining its invitation to appear in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in flood-control projects in his district. In a two-page letter dated December 3, 2025 and addressed to ICI Chair Andres B. Reyes Jr., Duterte argued that the commission cannot compel a sitting legislator to testify, while also asserting that the inquiry is being manipulated to damage the Duterte family ahead of the 2028 elections.
In the letter, Duterte stressed that the commission, created under Executive Order No. 94, has “no power nor jurisdiction” over members of Congress. He wrote that the body, being part of the Executive branch, is constitutionally barred from extending its mandate to lawmakers and therefore cannot summon him to appear. He added that the invitation was “vague and ambiguous,” noting that it did not specify the details of any allegations the commission supposedly holds.
Duterte also questioned why the ICI sought information from him when, according to his statement, Executive agencies — including the DPWH, DBM, DOJ, DENR, DICT, PCAB and DTI — already possess the documents the commission needs. He insisted that investigators can “rightfully secure any information or document” from these agencies without requiring his presence.
The lawmaker further emphasized that he did not sit on the House Appropriations Committee from 2019 to 2022, saying he is “incompetent to answer” any queries related to budget deliberations during those years.
The letter broadened into a wider accusation that the Marcos administration is shielding individuals allegedly linked to questionable public works contracts. Duterte pointed to claims made by former congressman Elizalde Co, saying the ICI should immediately scrutinize President Bongbong Marcos Jr., his family, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. He specifically urged the review of “flood control and other infrastructure projects in Regions I and VIII from 2022 to 2025, and incidentally all projects prior thereto from 2000 to 2025.”
Duterte described the revelations made by Co as “very revealing, as it is shocking,” insisting that these disclosures expose matters that demand formal investigation. He criticized the commission for, in his view, diverting attention from these allegations to instead “use me and my sister VP Sara to divert the truth, passing the blame and mislead the Filipino people.”
The congressman accused the ICI of functioning as a tool for “pure political propaganda” aimed at undermining his family’s reputation. He wrote that he sees the investigation as part of a broader effort “to weaken, or worse destroy the name of VP Sara, FPRRD and our Duterte family’s good name,” framing the probe as harassment in anticipation of the 2028 presidential, national and local elections.
The ICI was formed in 2025 to audit flood-control programs and other infrastructure contracts dating back to 2015. Its review has so far flagged substantial portions of Davao City’s 1st District projects from 2019 to 2022, including 80 of 121 flood-control contracts cited by former Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio. Duterte has repeatedly rejected allegations of ghost projects or overpricing, insisting that “the structures exist” and urging critics to personally inspect Davao’s riverbanks.
