THE country’s Chief Executive on Thursday has extended his word war against Senator Richard Gordon with his latest verbal assault as the Senate continues the investigation into the alleged corruption of the administration’s procurement of COVID-19 medical supplies.
In his pre-recorded Talk to the People nation address, President Rodrigo Duterte said that the administration was forced to come up with an explanation to the public due to the “outright accusation” of Gordon whom Duterte referred to as a “despot” and “pathological storyteller.”
“We could not get a complete and a thorough answer from the Senate because it is presided over by a despot, Gordon, who does the talking. He cannot help but talk and he interrupts the resource person with questions and cutting them off and providing the answer so that the answer of the resource person would never have been complete,” Duterte posited.
He said that, while the House of Representatives provides a chance for resource speakers to defend themselves, the Senate or Blue Ribbon Committee—spearheaded by Gordon—does otherwise.
“He (Gordon) does not allow any explanation for the resource person to elaborate on how the different events of the transaction took place,” Duterte stated.
Duterte expressed his dismay and claimed that the move to probe the alleged corruption of the administration is unfair.
“It was an inquiry devoid of rudeness, bias, and impartiality perpetrated by Gordon. It was an investigation that was not conclusive and based on facts as provided by the resource person,” he said.
As if his first insult was not enough, Duterte moreover urged the Filipino people to “dump the guy,” insisting that Gordon is a “fraud” in the Senate.
The President, however, emphasized that his tirades have nothing to do with other senators but is only addressed to Gordon who is the main lawmaker involved in the conduct of the alleged corruption’s hearings.
“I’d like to address myself to the other senators, it might seem that we are egging for a fight with you. We are not. Ang problema diyan ‘yong (the problem there is the) Blue Ribbon, ang chairman (the chairman) is a despot. He does not allow anybody to answer and he cuts the testimony of even the COA,” Duterte stressed.
“Nakinig man ako (while I listen on his statements). Anong klaseng tao ito (what kind of a person is this)? And he talks and talks and talks. He cannot help but open his mouth. He is a pathological storyteller, si (that) Gordon,” he added.
Duterte, albeit ironic to his own way of speaking, further pointed out how the Blue Ribbon Committee chair communicates, saying that his delivery was “slurred” and in a manner which not everyone understands.
The Palace official lastly persisted on his stand that no corruption was made on the attempt of the government to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies that the country used in response to COVID-19.
“There was no overpricing as what some senators are desperately trying to establish. Everything was delivered, there was no ghost deliveries as some senators are implying,” he said in defense.