MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday again targeted Senators Richard Gordon and Franklin Drilon as objects of his tirade, saying that he would not be the country’s president if he is “corrupt like them.”
During his Talk to the People aired on Wednesday, Duterte told Gordon, who heads the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearing into the alleged overprice of medical supplies from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., as well as Drilon that corruption is not in his system.
“Alam mo, sa totoo lang Gordon pati Drilon, hindi ako aabot sa presidency from my mayorship sa presidency kung corrupt ako kagaya niyo,” he said. “Kung tumatanggap ako ng mga—p***** i**— mga campaign funds diyan sa mga tao na alam niyo na, gumagawa ng kalokohan kasama ‘yung mga miyembro ng Congress. Kayo diyan ang mayroong butas. Wala kayong makuha sa amin,” he added.
(You know, Gordon and Drilon, I will not reach the presidency from being a mayor if I am corrupt like you…. If I am receiving campaign funds from erring individuals including members of the Congress. You have a loophole. You will not get anything from us.)
“It’s not in my system about corruption and money. Ibang bagay siguro masabi mong mayroon akong—pero hindi siya pera (Maybe other things but not money). But, my personal life, there are some those who would like to criticize me. But, as a public official I have to accept the criticisms,” Duterte added.
INQUIRER.net is still getting the side of Gordon and Drilon as of posting.
The President further claimed that as a lawyer, he has gotten used to criticisms.
“Pero, kung ‘yung sinasabi niyong pera, ako ang abogado, lumang tugtugin na ‘yan. Alam mo, sa totoo lang, sabi ko, I would not be President Duterte kung corrupt ako kagaya niyo,” he pointed out.
(But, if you’re saying the money, I’m the lawyer, that is an old tune. You know, in fact, I said, I would not be President Duterte if I’m corrupt like you.)
Pharmally bagged billions worth of government deals despite having only P625,000 in paid-up capital.
During one of the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearings, Gordon presented a video of Duterte meeting Pharmally officials in Davao City back in 2017.
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