MANILA – Davao City congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte is leaving up his re-election fate to Davaoeños after a viral video of him beating a man inside a bar in Davao City in February.
In a video released on his social media page, Duterte addressed the controversy.
“Sa akin mga kapatid na Davaoñeno, ngayon nakita niyo nanaman ang video, matagal-tagal na ‘yun nangyari. Sige lang, desisyon niyo po pa rin kung sino ang iboboto niyo sa pagka- congressman sa unang district. Di ako makiki-alam,” said Duterte.
Duterte added that he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint, and his legal team is verifying a video where he was allegedly seen physically assaulting a man.
“Sinabihan ako ng abogado na until now inu-authenticate pa nila kung saan galing ‘yung video. So parang nauna ‘yung file niyan, ewan kung sa CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) ba naunang mag-file…ang affidavit sa social media instead sa fiscal,” he said.
“So hindi ako makagawa ng statement niyan kasi hindi kami nakatanggap ng dokumento na may nag-file sa akin ng kaso,” Duterte added.
Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, for her part, said the case against her brother is another ploy by the Marcos administration to cover up for a controversy.
“Every time nagkakaroon sila ng issue, malaking issue na kabalbalan na ginagawa nila, ang kanilang pang-cover ay atakihin ‘yung kalaban nila sa politika,” Duterte-Carpio said in statement released on Sunday.
On Friday, a businessman has filed a complaint for physical injuries and grave threats against Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In his sworn statement, the complainant said Duterte threatened him with a knife and beat him up for around two hours.
Duterte is running for reelection against PBA party-list’s Rep. Margarita Nograles, daughter of the late Speaker Prospero Nograles./PN
