Minor disruptions in Senate Dengvaxia probe irk Gordon
Senator Gordon during the Senate hearing. INQUIRER / EDWIN BACASMAS
Senator Richard Gordon has threatened to throw some people out of the session hall for being noisy while he was presiding over a Senate investigation into the controversial anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.
“If you don’t stop talking there, I will throw you out of this chamber,” Gordon said during the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday.
“I’m sorry, this is a Senate investigation and it’s very, very difficult to follow through,” the senator added.
Before this, Gordon asserted his chairmanship of the committee when Minority Leader Franklin Drilon pleaded at least twice that he be allowed to ask questions to resource persons present in the hearing.
READ: Aquino faces Senate ‘Dengvaxia’ probe
“Pwede na ho ba kaming magtanong, Mr. chairman (Are we now allowed to ask question, Mr. chairman)?” Drilon asked when one of the resource persons, Dr. Francis Cruz of the Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), tried to directly ask a question to a fellow guest, Dr. Maria Joyce Ducusin, an official of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.
“Pwede naman ho kayong magtanong anytime e (You can ask questions any time),” Gordon answered.
Drilon reiterated his request when Cruz attempted again to make a follow-up question on Ducusin.
“Mr. chairman, I think the question was raised by Dr. Cruz, the answer has been made. Can we also ask our own questions at this time,” the minority leader asked.
“Follow up lang po…” Cruz said.
“Please Dr. Cruz, you have your time,” Drilon said.
At this point, Gordon reminded Drilon, “I’m the chair right now.”
The chairman then later recognized Senator Risa Hontiveros to ask questions to the resource persons. /jpv
