NOT wanting to dodge away from President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent tirades against him, Senator Richard Gordon on Friday struck back by calling the country’s Chief Executive as “not a respectable president” and a “cheap politician.”
The statements were made by Gordon against Duterte for allegedly protecting involved officials in the anomalous purchase of supplies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing presided by Gordon, the senator chose not to mince his words and turned emotional.
“Mahirap kayong tangkilikin, Mr President, because you do not act like a President. Today, I tell you, you are not a President the Filipino people can respect,” Gordon said.
The senator stressed that nobody has an interest to have a discourse with Duterte in international conferences as the latter keeps on spewing out curses and unnecessary words which—at least to Gordon—is not a character of a respectable president.
He further claimed that Duterte lashing out at the Senate seems to indicate its interest to keep former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang and former -Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao from the Senate’s deeper inquiry.
“I am really sorry for you, Mr. President. Ang pinagtatanggol ninyo [ay] si Lao? May utang na loob kayo dahil sa eleksyon? You are a cheap politician, Mr. President. Cheap politician. As cheap as they come, Mr. President. I’m sorry,” Gordon expressed, pointing out the connection of Lao as Duterte’s former election lawyer.
“And Mr. President, pinagtatanggol ninyo si Yang? Mr. President, kailangan niyo pa bang ipagtanggol? Bilyonaryo ‘yan. Mr. President, ‘yon ang pinagtatanggol ninyo? Pinagtatakpan ninyo, Mr. President? Tigilan na natin ‘to, Mr. President. Huwag ninyo nang ipagtanggol ‘yan. Hayaan ninyong matapos ito,” he added.
The senator believed that the Chief Executive continues his verbal assault against him to lead the investigation astray. However, he assured that the truth will still eventually come out.
“Hindi ako papayag [na] ang Senado ng Republika ng Pilipinas na malihis ang imbestigasyon, dalhin kami sa ibang patutunguhan ng kasinungalingan, ng kabuktutan, ng pangdarambong na pumapatay ngayon sa ating mga kababayan,” he stated.
Gordon, moreover, said that Duterte may consistently deny the alleged overpricing of the procured COVID-19 medical supplies but the Senate would still insist that the government’s purchase entails “fraud, waste, and abuse.”
“Payag na ako [na] sabihin ninyo [na] walang overpricing. Sa pananaw ninyo, walang overpricing. I will say na lang, simple lang, may fraud, may waste, and abuse,” Gordon remarked, saying the last sentence twice to give an emphasis.
He also debunked Duterte’s allegation that he is conducting the investigation to promote himself for his potential run in next year’s elections, declaring he has no such political plans so far.
Soon after his speech, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros lauded Gordon for his “courage” and “zeal” in staying upfront amid the probing.
Gordon then thanked his colleagues and acknowledged that all officials who are part of the investigation are brave to stand on their point.
“Whether you accept it or not, these are times when courage must come out into the open, into what is happening. Mr. President, It is so difficult to live during these times. I hope that those, our countrymen, ang ating mga kababayan, will find it in their heart to see the truth, makita ang katotohanan. I’m not saying that we are right all the time. Panindigan po natin ang ating pagsisilbi sa bayan at pagmamahal sa bayan,” Gordon said.