Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte is facing criminal complaints for allegedly mauling and threatening a businessman — an accusation the lawmaker dismissed as fraudulent.
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon confirmed on Friday, May 2, the filing of the complaints against Congressman Duterte.
“It’s already with DOJ (Department of Justice),” said Fadullon who noted that the complaints were received on Friday.
Fadullon said the DOJ will be conducting the preliminary investigation on the complaints that were filed by Davao City businessman Kristone John M. Patria, 37.
Patria accused the congressman of physical injuries and grave threats in violation of Articles 265 and 282, respectively, of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
In his complaints, Patria said the incident happened at around 3 a.m. last Feb. 23 at the Hearsay Gastropub Bar in Davao City.
In his sworn statement dated May 2, the complainant alleged that he has known Duterte since 2024 through the lawmaker’s business partner Charlie Tan.
During the incident, Patria recounted that “nagulat na lang po ako nang pinag-gugulpi na niya ako, headbutt habang pinagmumura at pinagbantaan na ‘papatayin kita’. ”
He claimed that at the time of the incident, Duterte was already drunk and and he pointed a knife at me saying: “Nanggigigil talaga ako sayo. Papataytin kita.”
Patria assured that he has proof that the incident took place even though he failed to seek medical treatment due to fear that Duterte might run after him and his family.
The complainant alleged that the assault resulted from a dispute with Duterte regarding payments to women who took part in a private party earlier that night.
FABRICATED?
Reacting to Patria’s charges, Rep. Duterte said in a meet and greet with supporters at the Hague, Netherlands, that the evidence submitted in the case filed against him was fabricated.
He emphasized that such tactics were nothing new to him, and described these as the new politics in the Philippines.
“If they cannot beat you with aid, they will beat you with ‘I will file a case against you.’ That is the new politics in the Philippines now – dirty politics. We’re already used to it,” Rep. Duterte said.
Rep. Duterte said the testimony or sworn statement by Patria was first filed with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, circulated on social media, and submitted to the prosecutor’s office.
“To my fellow Davaoeños, you’ve seen another video. It happened quite some time ago. It is still your decision who to vote for as congressman of the first district – I won’t interfere,” he said.
He did not say whether he intends to file counter charges against the businessman from Davao.
Duterte said details of the case are still being clarified and that the footage is currently under legal authentication.
Rep. Duterte said he cannot make an official statement yet since his camp has not received any formal document indicating that a case has been filed against him.
A closed-circuit television video of the alleged incident went viral on social media. It garnered different reactions and comments from Duterte supporters and non-supporters. (Jeffrey Damicog, Ivy Tejano)
