Representative Paolo Z. Duterte issued a strongly worded statement criticizing recent remarks by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. regarding U.S. missile capabilities stationed in the Philippines.

Duterte questioned the wisdom of boasting about missile systems that could reach China, warning that such rhetoric could endanger Filipino lives. “So is this now our idea of defense?” he asked. “Showing off for America even if it’s clear that Filipinos will be the first to burn from another nation’s retaliation?”

The congressman challenged Gen. Brawner to reflect on whose interests are truly being served. “The real question: Who are you really serving? The Philippines or the CIA?” Duterte said, accusing the general of prioritizing foreign alliances over the safety of ordinary Filipinos.

He also took aim at broader issues of governance, pointing to corruption in public projects and budget allocations. “Don’t lecture us about defending the nation if you can’t even defend the people from thieves in uniform and suits,” Duterte said, contrasting the treatment of corrupt officials in other countries with what he described as a culture of impunity in the Philippines.

Calling for clarity in leadership priorities, Duterte emphasized that the Filipino people need protection, not provocation. “We want peace, security, and sovereignty — not missiles with someone else’s fingerprints,” he concluded.