Lawmakers on Thursday said the House probe into questionable flood control projects should also review allocations made to Davao City during the Duterte administration, including those under the district of Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts, said the hearing must scrutinize the massive funds poured into Davao flood control projects in recent years, given the city’s worsening flooding. “I think that can be, that can serve as a basis to also look into the implementation of flood control projects within Davao City and Davao Region,” Ridon said.
The City Engineering Office recently reported 265 flooded areas after days of heavy rains. Ridon noted that while climate change and geography are factors, infrastructure remains central to addressing the issue.
House Human Rights Committee chair Rep. Bienvenido Abante backed the call, saying the Davao mayor should confront his own family’s record. “My suggestion to Mayor Baste is that he ask his brother the Congressman, how much funds did Cong. Pulong get when he was a Congressman during his father’s time? How much did you get? Reveal how much, where it was used, and why flooding remains severe in Davao,” Abante said.
Abante added that Mayor Sebastian Duterte should prove his claim that the inquiry is merely a stunt. Ridon, meanwhile, clarified that the scope of the investigation covers projects across different administrations, not just the current one.
