Pulong Duterte claps back at Remulla over ‘high’ remark: Get a mirror

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte has fired back at Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s remark that he was “high” when he claimed that International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest orders are underway, saying that the cabinet official should check his mirror first.

Duterte on Thursday, in a statement posted on his Facebook page, asked Remulla whether it is him who is high and stoned due to illegal drugs or the people he is with in Malacañang.

In an interview with reporters in Camp Crame, Remulla was asked about Duterte’s claims that the ICC has ordered the arrest of Senator Bong Go. In response, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief said Duterte may have been high on drugs when a source gave him this information.

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“You had the gall to call me ‘high’ and ‘stoned’, Secretary Jonvic Remulla? Me? Or maybe you were mistaken about who you were referring to and what you really wanted to point at were those inside Malacañang?” Duterte asked.

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READ: DILG on Duterte saying ICC arrest order for Go out: He might be ‘high’

“That’s why, before you label someone ‘high’ and ‘stoned,’ it might be better to look at the mirror first. Maybe the answer to your question is there,” he added.

According to Duterte, the solution to proving these claims is simple as getting a hair follicle test. However, the Davao City solon also explored the possibility that Remulla was referring to a different kind of ‘high.’

“If you really want to know who is ‘high’ and who is ‘stoned,’ the solution is simple. Let us go through hair follicle drug testing. Bring your boss, his wife, and children with you, so that we will do one testing and end all rumors,” he added.

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“But maybe you are referring to a different kind of being high, Jonvic. Maybe it’s about being high on power. High on corruption. High on arrogance. High in the belief that people no longer know who really does his job and who shows off whenever there’s a camera around,” he added, speaking in mixed Filipino and Cebuano.

The ICC has been going after individuals linked to the drug war of Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, due to allegations that he and his enforcers committed the crime against humanity of mass murder.

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Over the six-year term of this father, over 6,200 individuals died in legitimate police operations. However, human rights groups claimed that the true number of drug war-related deaths may be higher, ranging from 12,000 to 30,000.

READ: Drug war critics file complaint vs Duterte for ‘crimes against humanity’

Former President Duterte himself was arrested on March 11, 2025 after the Philippine National Police (PNP)—which operates under the DILG—assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in implementing the red notice for the arrest order issued by the ICC.

A similar arrest order has been issued against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Duterte’s first PNP chief.

As head of the police force, Dela Rosa implemented the Duterte administration’s grassroots anti-drug campaign known as Oplan Tokhang, a portmanteau of Visayan words “toktok” or to knock, and “hangyo” or to plead.

Go, meanwhile, is a long-time ally of the Dutertes, even when the former president was still Davao City mayor. During the first three years of Duterte’s presidency, Go was the special assistant to the president.

But during the hearings of the House of Representatives’ quad committee, back in the 19th Congress, former police colonel, Royina Garma, admitted that former President Duterte messaged her in May 201—right after the ex-leader won the presidential race—about building a task force to implement a rewards system in the drug war, just like what was done in Davao City.

According to Garma, the so-called Davao template involved providing cash rewards worth P20,000 to P1 million to cops who kill drug suspects.

READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH

At another hearing, Garma said that she can directly visit former president Duterte when he was in Malacañang, by going through Go.

READ: Garma admits: I can go straight to Duterte thru Bong Go

Garma also said that former police colonel Edilberto Leonardo told her that he made a proposal outlining the task force’s operations, coursed through Go.

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She also admitted that initially, she facilitated the meetings between Go and Leonardo. Eventually, Garma said that the two men “established direct communication”. /cb