DAVAO City 1st District Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte has formally declined the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) request for him to appear in its inquiry on alleged irregularities in flood-control projects in his district, declaring the body “powerless” over members of Congress and accusing it of political harassment.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to ICI Chair Andres B. Reyes Jr., Duterte said the commission — created under Executive Order No. 94 — is part of the Executive branch and therefore cannot summon or compel a sitting member of the House, citing the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers.
“The ICI appears without power nor jurisdiction over me,” Duterte wrote on page 1 of the letter .
He further accused the commission of issuing a “vague and ambiguous” invitation lacking factual and legal basis.
“Absent any particulars or details of matters in the possession of ICI, it is part of due process, fairness and respect,” he added.
Duterte said the Executive already has full access to needed documents and information through agencies like DPWH, DBM, DOJ, DENR, DICT, and DTI, noting that Malacañang “need not look to Congress” for matters involving projects under the Executive’s supervision.
The congressman also emphasized that he was not part of the House Appropriations Committee from 2019 to 2022, the period linked to alleged anomalies, saying he is “incompetent to answer” the commission’s inquiries .
In the second page of his letter, Duterte escalated his criticism, asserting that the ICI should instead investigate President Marcos Jr., his family, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, citing revelations made by former congressman Elizalde Co implicating them in flood-control and infrastructure projects in Regions I and VIII from 2022 to 2025.
Duterte described these claims as “shocking” and impossible to ignore.
He accused the Marcos administration of using the ICI as a political weapon to divert attention away from its own controversies by targeting him and Vice President Sara Duterte.
“To use me and my sister VP Sara to divert the truth… is highly unacceptable and deplorable,” he wrote.
Duterte concluded by calling the ICI “President Marcos Jr.’s tool for pure political propaganda,” intended to weaken the Duterte family ahead of the 2028 national and local elections.
“It is a continuing political propaganda and harassment against our family,” the congressman said in his signed closing statement .
The ICI has yet to respond to Duterte’s refusal.
