Gordon to colleagues: Don’t make side remarks at Senate hearings

MANILA , Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon asked colleagues on Thursday to  refrain from making side remarks  during an ongoing  hearing in the Senate.

“Don’t say that! Because we’re investigating here,”  Gordon suddenly  said while asking Philippine  National  Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde during the hearing of the Senate committee on justice.

Gordon was presiding over the hearing as  chairman of the committee.

“What do yo mean you don’t do that! What do you mean we  don’t do  that? There’s such a thing as a chain of command,” the senator went on.

“When you’re relieved and its unfair, you’re talking about due process earlier, you’ll have to say: ‘Due process dictates that you tell me what I’m accused of. Why are you suddenly relieving me, because it causes me severe considerable embarrassment?”

Gordon was  asking Albayalde about his relief as Pampanga police director after an anti-drug  operation in 2013 in Pampanga.

Thirteen Pampanga  policemen were  ordered dismissed in 2014  but  they were only demoted by one rank  in 2017.

“I’d advise  my fellow senators to refrain form  making remarks on the side. If you have something to say, say it on the forefront,” Gordon said.

As if  following Gordon’s  advice, Senator Imee Marcos  took the mic and said: “I think it’s not usual practice in the  PNP  to dispute, to  contest  orders. You simply obey them.”

At that time,  aside from Gordon, only Marcos and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, were  the only committee members present in the hearing. /jpv

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