Davao City First District Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte has publicly refused to participate in an investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), dismissing the inquiry as a "scripted circus" orchestrated for political propaganda.
Duterte's Blunt Refusal and Accusations
In a strongly-worded Facebook post on December 5, 2025, the lawmaker and son of former President Rodrigo Duterte made his position clear. "I don't run from real investigations. I only refuse to be part of a scripted circus pretending to be one," Duterte stated.
He launched a series of accusations against the commission and the administration behind it. Duterte labeled the ICI a "propaganda factory" designed to cover up the current administration's failures and target its critics. He questioned the integrity of the probe's backers, alleging they are "plagued with rats" and paid by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.
"Those seeking the truth should not hold investigations on a stage with a teleprompter or preach bravery while serving a propaganda committee," Duterte added, challenging the commission's methods.
Formal Decline and Legal Arguments
This public stance followed his formal, written refusal to the ICI's invitation dated December 3, 2025. In a letter addressed to ICI Chair Andres B. Reyes Jr., Duterte declined to appear before its inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood control projects in his Davao City district.
He argued that the commission, created under Executive Order No. 94 and part of the Executive branch, holds no power to summon a sitting member of Congress. Duterte described the invitation as "vague and ambiguous" and lacking a solid legal foundation, calling it an act of political harassment.
Duterte emphasized his clean record and openness. "The records are readily available, and the projects are there ready to be inspected. The ICI can simply obtain such records and compare them to the projects implemented," he asserted. He clarified that from 2019 to 2022, he was never a member of the House Appropriations Committee and had no involvement in fund disbursement or project implementation, seeing no reason to be summoned.
Counterattack and Political Context
Instead of subjecting himself to the probe, Duterte turned the tables and called for the ICI to investigate President Marcos, his family, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. He cited allegations from former Congressman Elizalde Co about anomalous flood control projects in Ilocos and Eastern Visayas from 2022 to 2025.
Duterte framed the ICI's actions as a continuous political assault. "It is continuing political propaganda and harassment against our family," he claimed. He accused the Marcos administration of using the commission to divert public attention from its own controversies and to weaken the Duterte family's political standing ahead of the 2028 elections.
Reaction from Critics
The refusal did not go unanswered. ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio criticized Duterte's move. On December 4, Tinio pointedly asked, "Bakit biglang dinaga si Polong? Anyare sa 'I welcome the investigation' at 'wala tayong tinatago, wala tayong kinakatakutan'?" (Why the sudden refusal? What happened to 'I welcome the investigation' and 'I have nothing to hide, nothing to fear'?).
Tinio had previously urged the ICI to look into approximately 80 flood control contracts worth P4.4 billion awarded in Davao City's First District during the period in question (2019-2022).
Duterte concluded by reiterating that his conscience is clean and his records are open for scrutiny, but not, as he sees it, for a politically motivated performance.
