A criminal complaint has been filed against Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte for alleged physical assault and grave threats in connection with a February 23 bar incident.
The complaint was filed by businessman Kristone John Patria, who claimed in his affidavit that Duterte assaulted and threatened him inside a bar in Davao City around 3 a.m. The altercation allegedly lasted over an hour and stemmed from a dispute over payment for the services of a woman.
Patria said he did not immediately seek medical attention or file a complaint due to fear, but he is now ready to cooperate with authorities to support the investigation.
Based on documents submitted to the Department of Justice, Patria accused Duterte of violating Article 265 (Physical Injuries) and Article 282 (Grave Threats) of the Revised Penal Code.
The Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has gathered several pieces of evidence, including CCTV footage from the bar, sworn affidavits from Patria and investigators, chain of custody documents, and photographs from the incident. A USB flash drive containing digital evidence was also submitted.
The case has been forwarded to the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service for further evaluation.
Patria, who is also a businessman, is reportedly known for supplying women to private gatherings involving prominent figures and business personalities.
Meanwhile, Rep. Duterte, speaking in an interview from The Hague, said his legal team is awaiting full details of the complaint, while an ongoing verification of the circulated video is underway.
