DOJ to evaluate complaints against ‘Pulong’ Duterte

ASSAULT Screenshot of a viral video shows a man striking another man at a Davao City bar on Feb. 23 when businessman Kristone John Patria claimed he was attacked there by Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte. Without directly addressing Patria’s complaints, Duterte said on Saturday: “You must have recently seen a video. That [incident] happened sometime ago.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to evaluate complaints of physical injuries and grave threats that a businessman had filed against Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, to determine whether it warrants a preliminary investigation.

Businessman Kristone John Patria filed the complaints against the lawmaker, eldest son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on May 2, some three months after Patria claimed he was assaulted by Duterte at a bar in Davao City.

“An evaluation will be done and if the evidence is sufficient, a PI will be conducted,” State Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon of the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service said on Sunday.

Fadullon had earlier confirmed that Duterte is facing complaints for alleged violations of the Revised Penal Code, specifically, Article 265 on physical injuries and Article 282 on grave threats, after the case was submitted to the DOJ main office in Manila.

According to Patria, he was attacked by Duterte at around 3 a.m. on Feb. 23 at Barrio Obrero in Davao City.

An 87-second video that has made the rounds on social media showed a man surrounded by bodyguards hitting another man with an object in his right hand.

The victim tried to appease him but his attacker persisted, punching and headbutting the victim.

‘Covering’ the issues

The alleged attack reportedly stemmed from a dispute over the payment for a woman whom Patria said he arranged for a private gathering with Duterte and an acquaintance upon their request.

But for the congressman’s sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, the complaints were yet another attempt to “cover” the issues faced by the Marcos administration.

“Like I said, every time they (the administration) face a major issue for what they are doing, they will cover it with another issue attacking their political opponents,” Sara Duterte told reporters in Zamboanga City on Saturday night.

She said the complaints against her brother came after the administration’s implementation of the P20-a-kilo rice program, which she believed could not be sustained.

“Of course, since that promise is not true at all, just a flattery to the people and they can’t sustain it, they halted it on May 2, when the complaint[s] against Cong. Pulong Duterte [came out],” she said.

Also on Sunday, the Philippine National Police said it had no custody of any footage involving the congressman nor any involvement in the complaints’ circulation on social media.

“The circulating videos online did not originate from the PNP, nor were they obtained or released by any PNP unit or personnel,” the PNP said. “The document in question was not released by the police, and the PNP has no official role in its circulation,” it said.

“The PNP respects the legal process and emphasizes that the case has already been formally filed before the Department of Justice. As such, any questions or clarifications regarding the merits of the complaint[s] should be addressed to the appropriate office handling the matter,” it said.

The PNP reminded the public to exercise caution and responsibility in sharing unverified information online, “especially when such materials are not validated or officially sanctioned.” —WITH A REPORT FROM FRANCES MANGOSING