Gordon describes Duterte rant vs Drilon during Sona ‘unpresidential’

Senator Richard Gordon. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon called as “unpresidential” President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirade against Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, adding that the chief executive should have respected the lawmaker’s right to express his opinion.

Speaking with reporters in a virtual interview on Tuesday, Gordon rallied behind his colleague.

“I think he (Duterte) should’ve stuck to the message. Una pa lang na bungad e binanatan na si Senator Drilon which I think is unpresidential. Siguro talagang malaki ang galit niya pero hindi niya dapat ilalabas sa publiko yung galit niya sa isang tao lalo isang senador who is called upon to speak for those who are vulnerable,” Gordon said.

(He already blasted Senator Drilon early on. Maybe he really harbors a huge grudge, but just the same he shouldn’t have made public his anger against a person, more so to a senator.)

“Mali o hindi [Whether it’s wrong or not], that is his position and that should be respected the way we respect all the pronouncements of the President,” he added.

Within the first five minutes of his penultimate State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, Duterte blasted Drilon over his “arrogant” remarks on oligarchs and accused the senator of defending the Lopezes.

Duterte once again hit Drilon at the latter part of the speech, this time calling the senator a “hypocrite.”

But Gordon said the President should not have singled out Drilon, who he said “shares the position of a lot of people.”

“Marami naman siyang (Duterte) sinasabi na hindi niya dapat sabihin…That’s his business pero di kami nakikialam. Democratic space ang tawag do’n,” the senator said.

(He has been saying a lot of things that shouldn’t have been said… But we do not interfere. Democratic space is what its called.)

“Pero hindi dapat i-single out ang isang tao who shares the position of a lot of people,” he added.

(But it’s not right to single out someone.)

Drilon has been vocal about his opposition to the rejection of ABS-CBN franchise bid, citing the loss of jobs to some of the network’s 11,000 employees.

In a statement shortly after Duterte’s Sona, Drilon refuted the President’s claim that the former is defending the Lopezes, the owners of the shuttered media giant ABS-CBN.

The Senate minority leader had also clarified that he never mentioned Duterte’s children, who currently hold public offices, amid discussions on dismantling oligarchy in the country.

On the other hand, Senator Imee Marcos attributed Duterte’s remarks against Drilon to his “authentic” nature.

“Siyempre ninerbyos tayo nung nagsimula si President don, talagang medyo kinabahan ako. Apetizer at dessert, talaga naman si Senator Frank,” she told reporters in a separate online interview.

(Of course we felt a bit nervous when the President started, I was a bit nervous. Senator Frank was really the appetizer and the dessert.)

Ganun pa man, minahal natin si President sa pagiging authentic, totoong tao niya. Kung ano yung nararamdaman niya, yun yung lumabas,” she said.

(Besides that, we loved the President for being authentic, he’s a real person. He’ll say what he feels for you.)

JPV

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