Paolo Duterte’s resignation will not ‘erase’ shabu shipment controversy —Alejano

Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Monday said Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte's resignation will not "erase" the controversy surrounding him involving drug shipment.

"I respect the decision of Vice Mayor Pulong to resign from his office due to the reasons he stated. It is his right to take certain action when he sees it fit especially concerning a personal issue with his daughter," Alejano said in a statement.

However, Alejano stressed that "it would not erase the fact that the 604 kilograms shabu shipment issue has not been addressed yet and the brains behind have not been identified and arrested."

Duterte, son of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been linked to the P6.4 billion worth of shabu that was smuggled to the country from China.

When he announced his resignation earlier, Duterte cited the drug shipment issue as one of the reasons. He also mentioned his spat with his 17-year-old daughter, Isabelle, in social media.

Duterte also emphasized that his parents have thought him the importance of having "delicadeza."

Meanwhile, Alejano said Duterte's resignation will not hide the fact that the First Family is not living a simple life following Isabelle's grand debutante photo shoot inside Malacañang.

"It will not divert the fact that while the Duterte family claims that they are poor and simple, Isabelle showed the opposite through an ostentatious display of wealth and power," he said.

"It will not mitigate the suffering and death of the people of Davao and other places due to flooding and fire. They need all the support from all of us especially from the concerned agencies of government. Or is he preempting an Ombudsman decision on his corruption case?"

In a separate statement, Parañaque Representative Gus Tambunting said he also respects the decision of Duterte.

"I respect the decision of Vice Mayor Duterte. It is his prerogative if he believes his resignation is in the best interest of his family. Let the legal succession take its course so the functioning of Davao City will not be stalled," Tambunting said.

On the other hand, ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said "removing himself from public office will not make questions on his alleged links to the Davao group and the smuggled P6.4 billion shabu shipment go away." —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News