MANILA — The accuser of Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte has said the root cause of the alleged assault was due to the lawmaker getting "triggered" over payment issues with women he hired during a drinking session last February 2025.

The businessman claimed Duterte was triggered twice during the night of the incident: first was when one of his bodyguards would not get a hired woman, and another was when Duterte only paid P1,000 to one of the hired women despite spending a long time with them.

"Dalawang beses siya na-trigger. 'Yung una, 'yung mga bodyguard niya binigyan niya ng babae tapos nagkulang ng isa. After that, nung bayad-bayad na lahat, parang  'yung isang babae doon, 1k lang binigay [niya]," he said in an interview with vlogger Niño Barzaga last Saturday, May 3, 2025.

"Ganito, 8 p.m. kami nag-start up to 3 a.m. Diba medyo mahaba 'yung oras na nag-inuman kami pero binigay [sa babae] 1k lang. Doon biglang nag-react 'yung babae na bakit 1k lang 'yung binigay. Doon nag-start medyo nagalit siya sa akin at hindi doon sa babae," he said.

He also said that when Duterte saw the CCTV camera in the bar, the lawmaker ordered it to be turned off.

"Buti na lang may CCTV pero nakita niya 'yung CCTV eh kaya medyo naputol. Noong nasa baba na kami noong parang napansin niya na may CCTV, pina-off niya. After that, 2 hours niya ako binugbog eh," he said.

He added that he could not have faked the incident since he does not own the bar where the alleged assault took place.

The businessman, who is a self-confessed pimp, also alleged that it was the fourth time the lawmaker "ordered" a woman from him. He claimed Duterte only does this when he is with his business partner or with his Chinese friends.

Asked why he filed a complaint at the Department of Justice and not the Davao Police, he said he was fearing for his safety in case he sent a complaint to someone who might tip off the lawmaker.

"Alam naman natin lahat na 'yung Davao sakanila 'yung ano... that time, hopeless ako e so sa DOJ na lang ako lumapit. Kasi kung sa Davao ako lumapit baka ma-mali 'yung taong malapitan ko at baka ma-ano agad sa kaniya," he said.

READ: Rep. Duterte faces physical injuries, grave threats raps at DOJ

He said that prior to the incident, he had nothing against the Dutertes and that he just wants to seek justice.

"Wala naman ako against sa kanila. I mean, pro-Duterte din ako. Wala akong against sa tatay niya, sa kapatid niyang babae. That time lang talaga na ginawa niya sa akin 'yung pagbugbog na almost 2 hours," he said.

He also said that he only filed a complaint after 2 months because he contemplated what happened to him.

When asked for a comment regarding the Duterte camp challenging the authenticity of the CCTV footage, the businessman said Duterte was clearly the one in the video and challenged others to view the CCTV footage outside the establishment.

"Wala naman tayong magagawa kung 'yan ang sabihin niya. Pero tingnan niyo naman 'yung video di ba. Siya na siya talaga and tingnan pa natin 'yung CCTV sa labas 'yung pagsabay namin na pumasok at paglabas  niya," he said.

READ: Rep. Paolo Duterte awaiting authentication of video showing alleged assault

Rep. Duterte has said that said he is waiting for the authentication of a video spreading online allegedly showing him threatening and assaulting a man at a bar.

He added that he cannot respond to the criminal complaint against him until he receives a copy of it.

The Department of Justice has confirmed that a complaint for physical injuries and grave threats has been filed against the lawmaker by a Davao City resident.