Pulong Duterte snubs ICI, says panel can't compel lawmakers

December 4, 2025 | 10:55am

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte (Davao City, 1st District) refused to attend the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s hearing on anomalous flood control projects, saying the invitation lacked "factual and legal bases" and that the executive branch has no mandate over him.

In a December 3 letter to ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., Duterte outlined six reasons for declining the commission’s invitation. First, he argued that the executive's power is "purely limited" to its own branch and cannot extend to the legislative due to the constitutional separation of powers. 

"I am a sitting member of Congress. Considering that ICI is a creation of President Marcos, Jr. per E.O. No. 94, the ICI appears without power nor jurisdiction over me," he said. 

Duterte also argued that he was not a member of the House Committee on Appropriations from 2019 to 2022 under his father's administration, which he said would make him "incompetent to answer" the ICI's questions.

From the ARCHIVES: Opposition lawmakers: Is Paolo Duterte skirting Ombudsman probe?

He added that if the independent body needs documents related to infrastructure projects in his district, it should already be able to obtain them from national agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), given that the ICI is part of the executive branch.

Accusing ICI

Duterte further alleged that the ICI was created to allow Marcos to "save himself" and his family, noting that the body has yet to prioritize allegations involving the president or former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin, and the flood control and other infrastructure projects in their own provinces.

"I feel that ICI must immediately investigate President Marcos Jr., his family and ex-Speaker Romualdez, forthwith, most especially 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," he said.   

Both Marcos and Romualdez have been accused of receiving a share of the alleged budget insertions in the 2025 national budget mentioned by resigned lawmaker Elizaldy Co. Marcos, in particular, was accused of ordering Co to insert P100 billion in the budget, while Romualdez allegedly allowed it to happen.

While the ICI’s probe into projects allegedly linked to Co has already resulted in criminal charges against him, Duterte said Co’s claims "cannot be ignored" and should also be investigated.

He also thinks that the ICI is simply using him and his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, as Marcos' "political tool" to destroy the Duterte name before the 2028 elections.  

Davao City districts, however, are currently facing allegations of having P4.44 billion worth of anomalous flood control projects from 2019 to 2022. Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers Party-list) asked the ICI on December 2 to also investigate 80 flood control contracts in Davao, saying he found instances of "double funding," "overpricing," and projects that remain incomplete.