Pulong slams House probe on Dolomite Beach, accuses lawmakers of political bias

Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte cried foul over the looming probe by the House of Representatives into the artificial white sand beach in Manila Bay, built under the administration of his detained father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lawmaker specifically lambasted ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, who suggested holding the ex-leader accountable for possible corruption alongside government officials who undertook the dolomite beach project.

Rep. Duterte accused the Makabayan bloc, known for its anti-corruption stance and pro-people policies, of engaging in selective criticism and double standards, pointing to their alleged silence over the unfolding corruption scandal under the present administration.

“I have no problem in holding everyone accountable if they are at fault, as you said, including FPRRD, because it is his project. [But] why do you seem silent when it comes to holding accountable those who signed the most corrupt budgets of 2023–2025?” he said in Filipino in a Facebook post late Monday.

“Let’s not pretend to be champions of transparency if all you’re after is political gain. If your objective is truly ‘accountability,’ start with yourselves and with those you have served who are tainted with corruption,” he continued.

The House committee on public accounts has set the probe into the dolomite beach for 17 November. The move was triggered by reports from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, which blamed the artificial white sand beach for exacerbating flooding along Taft Avenue in Manila.

MMDA chair Romando Artes attributed the flooding to the blockage of three major drainage outfalls—Faura, Remedios, and Estero San Antonio Abad—during the construction of the artificial beachfront, forcing rainwater to be rerouted through a sewerage treatment plant that was incapable of handling flood volumes during heavy rains.

The dolomite beach, which opened in 2020, faced intense backlash, with critics claiming it was merely cosmetic and had little to do with rehabilitation.

The artificial beach cost the government over ₱600 million, according to Tinio, but remains “completely useless,” raising suspicions of fund misuse or corruption.

Responding to the tirades of the Davao solon, Tinio asserted that they have been consistently calling for transparency and accountability of erring officials, regardless of which administration they belong to.

Tinio advised his colleague to do his research first before making such accusations, saying, “Google is free.”

Rep. Duterte argued that the House’s move to revive the dolomite beach issue is a veiled attempt to divert public attention from the alleged large-scale corruption scheme in the flood control projects of the Marcos administration, which involves, among others, members of Congress, including the President’s allies.

“Decades have passed and not a single government official gave proper attention to the problems of Manila Bay... Yet, after several years and due to politics, they are deliberately making an issue about Manila Bay and pinning it on President Duterte to discredit him,” he averred.