President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he preferred the House of Representatives’ investigation on the government’s procurement of allegedly overpriced medical supplies amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his “Talk to the People” broadcast, Duterte said the House, which is full of his allies, was doing a better job than the Senate, which he accused of conducting a witch-hunt.
The reason? Because Sen. Richard Gordon is not there.
“Ang lower house walang Gordon eh. Gordon is one of a kind. Kaya sabi ko if the Filipino people nakikinig kayo, dump the guy. He is a fraud. This is how an inquiry should be, far from the witch-hunt being undertaken by the Senate,” Duterte said.
Duterte has been critical of Gordon since the latter started investigating the government’s deals with pharmaceutical company Pharmally as head of the Senate blue ribbon committee.
In his Talk to the People addresses since the start of the probe, Duterte has described Gordon as fat, racist, corrupt and a despot.
In his latest address, Duterte called Gordon a “pathological storyteller.”
“He talks and talks and talks. He cannot help but open his mouth,” said the president who has drawn international ire for badmouthing women, the Pope and even God.
Duterte said the House had a fairer probe as it allowed witnesses to talk.
“In the House, as I was informed, everybody were given a chance, those who were called to testify were able to complete their story and it was a more sane inquiry because ang mga witnesses nakapagsalita ng kanilang totoong sagot,” Duterte said.
The issue being investigated in both Congress houses involves Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang and Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao. John Ezekiel J. Hirro