Gordon says Duterte’s ‘mukhang pera’ remark ‘unpresidential’

SENATOR RICHARD GORDON AT INQUIRER / FEBRUARY 27, 2020. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon on Friday cautioned President Rodrigo Duterte against issuing unpresidential remarks, after the latter called Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which Gordon chairs, as “mukhang pera” (greedy for money).

“I am not offended. I think the President should really be careful because minsan hindi niya alam na (he does not know that) the statement is not really presidential,” Gordon said in a press conference.

He also said he would rather focus on helping the government in its response efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Rolly.

For Gordon, Duterte’s comment might have been influenced by a preceding remark from Health Secretary Duque III during a Cabinet meeting.

“I think he was misled by the statement. Because the way the predicate was laid by Sec. Duque was wrong. Sabi niya, nagtest na ulit noong binayaran (He said we continued testing when the debt was paid),” said Gordon.

Duterte, in a meeting with Cabinet members at Malacañang on Thursday, called the PRC “mukhang pera” (greedy for money) after the humanitarian organization resumed its COVID-19 testing services following the government’s payment of half its nearly P1-billion debt.

During the meeting, Duque reported that the suspension of swab tests from PRC has led to a decrease in the nationwide COVID-19 reporting.

“Nabayaran na po ang PRC at nagbukas na po silang muli kaya patuloy na po ang kanilang pagsusuri ng mga swab specimen (PRC has already been paid and it is open again to continue checking the swab specimen),” said Duque.

This is when Duterte commented: “Mukhang pera.”

The PRC temporarily suspended accommodating COVID-19 tests chargeable to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. since October 14 because of the state insurer’s debt to PRC amounting to P930 million.

It later resumed its testing services after PhilHealth made a P500-million partial payment. On Thursday, PhilHealth also paid P100 million more to Philippine Red Cross.

This is not the first time that Gordon described Duterte’s off-the-cuff comments as “unpresidential.”

Last July, Gordon also called out the Chief Executive for his “arrogant” tirade against Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon during his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA), where Duterte  lambasted the opposition senator for allegedly defending the Lopezes.

EDV