Sara Duterte on Pulong’s video: Better it’s out now before Eleksyon 2025

Vice President Sara Duterte has seen a silver lining amid the circulation of a video allegedly involving her brother, Davao City Representative Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, assaulting a man in a local bar.

Sara Duterte, who had admitted to seeing a portion of the viral video, said its release could help voters "make an informed decision" when choosing candidates in the upcoming May 12 national and local elections.

"Actually, para sa akin, okay ito na lumabas siya bago ang eleksyon para 'yung mga botante, nakakapagdesisyon sila nang maayos kung sino 'yung pipiliin nila," the Vice President said in an exclusive interview with Marisol Abdurahman of GMA Integrated News.

(Actually for me, it's okay that the video came out before the elections so that the voters could better decide about whom they will vote in the upcoming polls.)

"So, maganda nang lumabas siya ngayon para nakakapagdesisyon ang mga botante sino ba talaga ang pipilin na kandidato. At as I said, 'yun 'yung good thing about it. Pero, it's really a political attack," she added.

(So, it's better that it's out now, so that voters can decide which candidate to pick. That's the good thing about it. But it's really a political attack.)

A businessman earlier filed a complaint for physical injuries and grave threats against Pulong before the Department of Justice, accusing the congressman of violating Article 265 and Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code.

In his sworn statement, the complainant said Pulong threatened him with a knife and beat him up for around two hours on February 23 at a bar in Davao City.

Sara Duterte had dismissed the complaint as part of the Marcos administration's alleged political attacks on their family. She also claimed that the administration just wants to destroy the image of their enemies to "cover up" the real issues in the country.

The Vice President also said that all the attacks thrown at their family could be addressed by their lawyers.

Despite this, Sara said she believes that local candidates in Davao City have no hand with what's currently happening with the Duterte family.

"Palagay ko walang kinalaman 'yung mga candidates ni Marcos sa Davao City sa pag-file ng case. This is purely Philippine National Police at CIDG," she said.

(I don't think Marcos' candidates in Davao City had anything to do with the filing of the case. This is purely the Philippine National Police and CIDG.)

"Ang nagko-control ng mga candidates ni Pangulong Marcos doon sa Davao City ay hindi naman sila eh... sila 'yung kino-control ng national at… isa 'yun sa mga strategy ng national na pabagsakin 'yung pamilya namin," she continued.

(The ones controlling President Marcos' candidates in Davao City are not them. They are the ones being controlled... they are the ones being controlled by the national government and... that's one of the national government's strategies to bring our family down.)

The PNP had maintained that the assault video allegedly involving Pulong Duterte did not come from any police personnel.

Further, the PNP also reiterated that it has no custody over any CCTV footage of the incident and denied any involvement in the dissemination of the complainant's affidavit, which are both supposedly circulating on social media.

For Malacañang's part, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said it would be better if Pulong just answered the complaint lodged against him, instead of VP Sara branding it as part of the Marcos administration's "political attacks" on their family.

PDP Laban

A week before the May 12 midterm elections, the Vice President also expressed confidence that PDP Laban senatorial candidates called as "DuterTEN" currently have "more than a majority support" from the people.

However, she said they still have concerns about possible election fraud and issues on vote-buying.

"Kasi naririnig namin ngayon na 'yung mga local candidates ng administration ay mayroon daw mga TUPAD and AICS and AKAP budget na pinamimigay. In fact, dito sa Zamboanga City, ang bali-balita ay four times a day, namimigay ng AKAP,” the Vice President said.

(We heard that the local candidates of the administration have budgets from the TUPAD, AICS, AKAP that are being distributed. In fact, here in Zamboanga City, we heard that the AKAP is being distributed four times a day.)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier issued a reminder that it will implement an "ayuda ban" from May 2 up to election day on May 12. The 10-day ban covers Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and the controversial Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

Under the Omnibus Election Code, violations of the prohibitions constitute election offenses, punishable by imprisonment of not less than one year, but not more than six years, among other penalties provided for by law. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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