Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte fired back at ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio after the latter called for accountability and investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project.
In a Facebook post, Duterte accused Tinio and other critics of selective outrage, saying they were silent during larger corruption scandals under previous administrations.
“Ang bilis ninyong maghanap ng ‘mananagot’ ngayon, pero noong tunay na ninakawan ang bayan — tahimik kayong lahat,” Duterte said. “Noong bilyones ang nawala, nasaan kayong mga magagaling na umuusig? Nung galit na galit ang taumbayan sa garapalan na nakawan na nabunyag nitong taon lamang, kapansin-pansin na tila ang dali ninyung makalimot."
The Davao lawmaker questioned Tinio’s credibility, arguing that critics only raise issues when it suits their political agenda.
He defended former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, calling the Manila Bay rehabilitation one of its most visible achievements.
“Kung tutuusin, mas dapat itanong: may nanagot na ba sa bilyones na nawala sa panahon ng amo ninyong bangag at tambaloslos? Wala, ‘di ba?” he added.
Duterte further accused Tinio’s camp of hypocrisy, urging them to reflect on their own alliances before preaching transparency.
“Huwag tayong magpanggap na champion ng transparency kung pamumulitika lang ang habol,” Duterte said. “Kung totoo ang hangarin ninyong ‘accountability,’ simulan ninyo sa sarili ninyo — at sa mga pinagsilbihan ninyong may bahid ng korapsyon.”
He also defended the intent of the Dolomite Beach project, noting that it was the first serious attempt in decades to rehabilitate the polluted bay.
“Ilang dekada na ang nagdaan at walang ni isang opisyal ng gobyerno ang nagbigay ng nararapat na pansin sa problema ng Manila Bay,” Duterte said.
“Ngayon, may ginawa ang isang Pangulong taga-Mindanao para mapakinabangan ang Manila Bay… ngunit dahil sa pulitika, pilit na ginagawan ng issue at sinisiraan," he added.
Tinio, earlier said that the project was a wasteful expenditure and must be investigated thoroughly.
“Dapat lang na maimbestigahan, makita kung gaano kalaking pondo ba talaga ang nasayang, at ‘yung extent ng corruption na involved dito. Kailangan mapanagot ang lahat ng sangkot dito, up to the (former) president himself dahil proyekto ito ng dating pangulo,” Tinio said.
Duterte concluded his statement by calling out what he described as politically motivated probes meant to “distract the public from real issues.”
“Nakakahiya kayo! Kung sa tingin ninyo ay bobo ang mga Pilipino, nagkakamali kayo… malinaw sa mata ng bawat Pinoy na ang mga imbestigasyong ito ay paraan lang para pagtakpan ang totoong issue na bumabalot sa bayan ngayon," the younger Duterte said.
The House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Bico Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, is set to begin its investigation into the Dolomite Beach project on November 17.
