Davao City first district representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte’s attacks against the New People’s Army and drug dealers are nothing but a smokescreen to divert the people from the real issues facing Davaoeños. Anakbayan-Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) stated this regarding Duterte’s call for victims of drugs and the NPA to “speak out” against them.

“Instead of prioritizing the economic issues Davaoeños face, Pulong covers them up with lies and deception. The NPA is not the issue. The real issues for the people are severe flooding, heavy traffic in the city, vendors being demolished, PUV drivers losing their livelihood because of the Davao Bus Project, and unlivable wages,” Anakbayan-SMR secretary general Fauzhea Guiani said.

Up to now, Duterte remains indifferent and continues to evade accountability for controversies involving his family, including Sara Duterte’s embezzlement of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, and his own cases of abuse and violence against women.

Some of Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes include the killing of 30,000 people in his fake war on drugs and the imposition of two years of martial law in Mindanao, which resulted in 348,081 victims of aerial bombing and the forced displacement of 423,538 people.

“The big question now is who is really deceiving and stealing the people’s money that should have been for public service? Who is killing the people’s future?” said Guiani.

“If Pulong truly protects people’s rights, he should address the roots of the armed struggle, which stem from the lack of land, livelihood, housing, education, and rights,” the youth leader challenged.

Communist Party of the Philippines chief information officer Ka Marco Valbuena called Duterte disgraceful and said his mouth is full of garbage.

“Duterte’s pretense in calling on so-called ‘victims of the NPA and drugs’ is revolting, when his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is indicted for crimes against humanity for the thousands killed in his ordered ‘war on drugs’,” said Valbuena.

The CPP urged the Filipino people to “expose the lies and propaganda of the Dutertes.” Valbuena said the Duterte family’s rule is one of terrorism, oppression, and abuse of power.