Duterte praises House hearing: ‘More sane’ than Senate’s

MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to his attitude towards the Senate, President Rodrigo Duterte is praising the House of Representatives for its investigation on the government’s  procurement of COVID-19 response-related items saying it was “more sane” as witnesses were “allowed to talk.”

In complimenting the lower chamber, Duterte again singled out Senator Richard Gordon who chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee for supposedly interrupting the resource persons during the inquiries.

READ: Duterte finds House backers in resistance to Senate panel’s Pharmally probe

“We could not get a thorough answer from the Senate because it is presided over by a despot Gordon who does the talking. He cannot help but talk. He interrupts the resource persons with questions and cutting them off and providing the answer,” Duterte said in a taped speech aired Thursday.

“Mabuti na lang ang House and I was informed that the House conducted the hearing and allowed the witnesses to talk,” he added.

(Good thing at the House, and I was informed that the House conducted the hearing and allowed the witnesses to talk.)

The President said that even Commission on Audit (COA) chairperson Michael Aguinaldo could not complete his sentence because “Gordon cuts him.”

“But in the House as I was informed, everybody was given a chance. Those who were called to testify were able to complete their story and it was a more sane inquiry kasi yung mga witnesses nakapagsalita ng kanilang totoong sagot,” Duterte said.

(But in the House as I was informed, everybody was given a chance. Those who were called to testify were able to complete their story and it was a more sane inquiry because the witnesses were able to speak their real answer.)

During a hearing Wednesday, House committee on good government and public accountability chairperson Rep. Michael Aglipay said he was saddened over the Senate’s alleged attempt to destroy the President’s credibility in its investigation in the procurement of pandemic response supplies.

House Deputy Speaker Rep. Rodante Marcoleta also questioned the Senate blue ribbon committee’s investigation, accusing them of refusing to believe COA’s clarifications that there’s no overpricing in the procurement of the COVID-19-related items.

/MUF