Sen. Richard Gordon in one of the Senate online hearings. Screen grab/Senate PRIB file photo
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Richard Gordon on Monday denounced those in government who think they are “full of power” and then later “behave like a pig.”
Gordon aired this sentiment as he was presiding over the hearing of the Senate finance subcommittee on the proposed budget of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and attached agencies and corporations.
During the hearing, the senator mentioned about a government official who criticized the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating the allegedly overpriced medical supplies bought by government to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He did not initially name the official, saying he did not want to stoop down to his level.
“I think you better investigate that on your own because that guy seems to have over-extended his intelligence to the point that he’s going to embarrass and put the department into an ignominy…” Gordon said, directing his statement to PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar.
He asked Andanar if he was aware of what he was talking and when the latter answered in the negative, Gordon said: You better ask Secretary Ramon Coaloping. I’m not going to justify him here. I can handle him in another forum…Ask him.”
“Ang tapang ninyo, haharap kayo dito tapos i-criticize nyo ang blue ribbon. We’re free, we can be criticized. I’m ok but don’t use the government Mr. Coaloping…”
(You have the guts to come here and later criticize the blue ribbon. We’re free, we can be criticized. I’m ok but don’t use the government Mr. Coaloping…)
“How dare you? You think you’re made of teflon. Lahat may katapusan, pati ako may katapusan lahat kayo may katapusan. Hindi porke nakatuntong kayo, malaki pa kayo sa kalabaw. That’s the problem with people in government…”
“Akala nyo pag naka pwesto kayo you’re full of power, you’re jacked with power then you start behaving like a pig,” Gordon went on.
After a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Occidental Mindoro early Monday morning, Coalopeng wrote on Facebook: “Senate blue ribbon investigates cause of Luzon earthquake.”
Gordon is chairman of the blue ribbon committee.