In a poignant message shared late Sunday night, August 3, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte revealed how his siblings have become his anchor as the Duterte family faces growing political and personal challenges.
On Facebook, the congressman posted a series of photos alongside his three siblings—Vice President Sara Duterte, Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, and their younger half-sister Veronica “Kitty” Duterte. Accompanying the photos was a reflective caption: “Adversity teaches many things, but a sibling teaches you how to stand through it without falling alone.”
Though the images appear undated, the message was unmistakably timely. The Duterte family has recently found itself in the spotlight, especially following the announcement of a new “Davao group” in the House of Representatives. Paolo Duterte previously stated that the bloc will function independently within the lower chamber in the upcoming 20th Congress.
This show of family unity comes as their father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, remains detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, where he has been held since March. His ongoing incarceration has added emotional weight to the already high-stakes political atmosphere surrounding the Duterte name.
