Trillanes prays for Gordon’s ouster from blue ribbon panel

A change in Senate leadership, particularly seeing Senator Richard Gordon out of the blue ribbon committee, is what Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has been praying for.

“Isang panalangin natin ‘yan na magbago so hindi ko alam kung may powers pa rin ako,” Trillanes said when asked during the regular Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday about the possibility of a change in leadership in the Senate when it resumes work in May.

But if there’s an opportunity to change the incumbent leadership in the chamber, he said he would “grab” the chance if only to make sure the blue ribbon committee, currently chaired by Gordon, would go to an “open-minded” senator.

“Hindi ‘yan pwedeng mapunta sa isang tuta ni Duterte kasi magiging proteksyon ‘yan, gagamiting proteksyon ni Duterte (President Rodrigo Duterte),” the candid senator said.

Trillanes also said he has been telling Senate President Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III that changing the chairmanship of the said committee was the “key” to keep the Senate’s independence.

“Whatever it takes mapalitan ‘yung blue ribbon committee chairman, if it takes mapalitan ‘yung Senate President, eh ‘di ganun. Pero kung papalitan ‘yung Senate President, tapos sya (Gordon) pa rin ang blue ribbon committee chairman, wala rin,” he pointed out.

Trillanes even declared he would only be satisfied if Gordon would be kicked out as the committee chair, but if not, Trillanes said, he would support any moves to change the Senate leadership.

READ: Trillanes wants Gordon out of committee

Trillanes has been asking for Gordon’s head since last year. Trillanes has been criticizing Gordon’s way of handling the committee’s investigation on the controversial P6.4 billion shabu shipment from China.                        /kga