Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Monday issued a strongly worded statement criticizing recent remarks by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., questioning the administration’s governance, political alliances and claimed reforms.

In his statement, Duterte challenged the credibility of the administration’s reform agenda, urging Malacañang to present clear accountability and measurable outcomes instead of what he described as political rhetoric.

“Matagal nang tanggap ng maraming Pilipino na kahit sa sariling administrasyon mo, marami pa ring tanong tungkol sa direksyon at kalidad ng governance na ipinangako mo,” Duterte said, addressing the president.

The lawmaker called on Marcos to provide concrete accomplishments ahead of his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), emphasizing that the public expects tangible results rather than “English buzzwords, new slogans and scripted applause.”

“Ang gusto marinig ng tao ay resulta, hindi production number,” he said.

Duterte pointed to continuing concerns faced by ordinary Filipinos, including rising prices, flooding and daily livelihood struggles, which he described as the “real report card” of the administration.

He also responded to Marcos’ recent remarks about having no regrets over running with Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2022 elections, saying the president’s victory was largely due to the UniTeam coalition.

“The truth is simple — without Sara Duterte, you would not have won by the margin that you did,” he said, adding that the coalition delivered votes nationwide.

Duterte questioned what he described as an attempt to downplay the role of political allies, saying it was “puzzling” for the administration to suggest that the mandate came from a single figure.

He further urged the government to focus on delivering concrete achievements instead of worrying about criticisms or potential challenges to its legacy.

He added that the success of a presidency would ultimately be judged not by applause in Congress but by the Filipino people, many of whom, he said, are still waiting for the change promised during the 2022 elections.

Malacañang has yet to issue a response to Duterte’s remarks.