Paolo Duterte leaves reelection bid 'up to voters' amid grave threat, physical injuries complaint
Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, in a video statement, said he was leaving his reelection bid up to voters as he faces grave threat and physical injuries allegations.
Department of Justice Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon confirmed on May 3 that businessman Kristone Patria filed a complaint against Duterte over an alleged incident at a gastropub in Barangay Obrero, Davao City in February 2025.
The congressman allegedly violated Articles 265 and 282 of the Revised Penal Code.
In a sworn affidavit, Patria claimed Duterte physically assaulted him for nearly two hours and threatened him with a knife.
Alleged CCTV footage of the incident had also made the rounds online. Authorities have yet to authenticate the clip.
On May 3, Duterte released a statement on his Facebook account about the circulating video, saying it happened "a long time" ago.
"It's your decision who you vote for as congressman in the first district," he said in Bisaya, as translated by Google.
Duterte added that his camp is still authenticating where the video came from and has yet to receive the complaint.
Meanwhile, the congressman's sister Vice President Sara Duterte called the complaint against her brother a "political attack."
“Every time nagkakaroon sila ng issue, malaking issue na kabalbalan na ginagawa nila, ang kanilang pang-cover sa mga issue na ito ay atakihin ‘yung kalaban nila sa politika,” she said as per GMA News.
Duterte seeks reelection as Davao City First District Representative in the 2025 midterm elections.
In March, he was granted travel clearance for his personal trip to 16 countries, including the Netherlands, from March 20 to May 10.
His father, Rodrigo Duterte, is currently held in The Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity related to his bloody war on drugs.
