Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Senator Antonio Trillanes said he is preparing to file criminal complaints against Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte for supposed irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects in the lawmaker’s district during the final years of the term of his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s.
In an interview on ‘The Newsmaker,’ Trillanes said his team is conducting “research and investigation” into contracts and projects linked to the P51 billion allocated to Davao City’s first congressional district from 2020 to 2022. He said possible charges include graft, malversation and, if supported by evidence, plunder.
“We’re being very deliberate about it,” Trillanes said, referring to the pace of the inquiry. He confirmed that the planned complaints would likely be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman.
The former senator said he had earlier filed a complaint against Paolo Duterte for alleged involvement in illegal drug smuggling, which he said is pending with the Department of Justice.
Flood control allocations
In September, a ranking official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) confirmed in a House hearing that Davao City’s first district received P51 billion in infrastructure funds over three years.
Late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral told lawmakers that the amounts were reflected in the General Appropriations Act for 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Duterte denies wrongdoing
Duterte has denied any fund misuse, saying all projects in his district were completed and transparent.
“I can guarantee everybody that every peso allocated was implemented. Wala namang nagbabagsakan na mga flood control projects dito, wala din mga ghost projects dito,” Duterte said in an August 2025 statement.
[Translation: “There are no collapsed flood control projects here, and there are no ghost projects here.”]
He added that project records are open to public scrutiny and said residents may request data directly from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) offices.
In an earlier statement, Duterte accused critics of singling out his family. “Duterte kayo nang Duterte,” he said, complaining that lawmakers were diverting attention from alleged kickbacks by DPWH officials.
[Translation: “You keep blaming the Dutertes.”]
Trillanes said the evidence being gathered on the Davao flood control projects could bolster both administrative and criminal cases, depending on the findings of auditors and investigators.
“People should understand that I’m already in the private sector,” he said. “But I’m doing my best to push for accountability.”
