In Philippines, Duterte’s ‘CIA puppet’ slur ignites fierce military backlash

Paolo Duterte’s claims of the military ‘showing off for America’ are aimed at undermining the current administration, analysts say

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Paolo Duterte, son of former Philippine president Rodrigo, represents Davao City, the hometown of the Duterte clan. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:00pm, 29 Oct 2025

Officials in the Philippines have hit back at the tirades of lawmaker Paolo Duterte, who accused the country’s armed forces of “gambling with Filipino lives” and called the military chief a “puppet of the CIA”.

Observers say the allegations from the son of former president Rodrigo Duterte are aimed at resuscitating old narratives and pro-Beijing talking points to undermine the current administration.

On Saturday, the younger Duterte published a statement on social media directed at Armed Forces of the Philippines’ General Romeo Brawner Jnr. In it, he accused the military of “showing off for America, even if it’s clear that Filipinos will be the first to burn from another nation’s retaliation”.

The congressman, who represents Davao City, the hometown and stronghold of the Duterte clan, further accused Brawner of boasting about missiles that could reach China, in reference to the United States’ Typhon system deployed in the country as part of the annual joint military exercises with Washington.

Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jnr (right) accompanies US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at Camp Aguinaldo on March 28. Photo: Reuters

He accused Brawner further of colluding with the US Central Intelligence Agency, asking: “Who are you really serving?”

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