Gordon shrugs off Hontiveros criticism of Dengvaxia hearing

Senate’s panel hearing on Dengvaxia fiasco.

CEBU CITY – Senator Richard Gordon dismissed Senator Risa Hontiveros’ criticism of his handling of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the controversial Dengvaxia dengue vaccines.

Speaking at the turnover of housing units to Yolanda victims in Bogo City in Cebu, Gordon disputed Hontiveros’ claim that senators were not given the chance to participate in the hearing.

“I can understand where people would say we were leading the charge, but I don’t think we can say that we didn’t give anybody a chance,” Gordon told reporters in a telephone interview from Cebu.

Gordon was in Bogo City to turnover 100 houses donated by the Philippine Red Cross to survivors of the 2013 Supertyphoon Yolanda.

“Their questions have to be on point,” Gordon said. “We have to pursue [the point] otherwise we would never be finished with the investigation.”

Gordon shrugged off Hontiveros’ criticism that the hearing should have been “more participatory and democratic.”

“Everytime [Hontiveros] asks a question, she asks the same question,” Gordon said. “I don’t want to fight with her… you know, she’s a distraction.”

“When she’s the chairman, I won’t question her, and if she invites somebody I won’t question her. I won’t even criticize my fellow senator,” he said.

Gordon was referring to the participation in the hearing of Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), who suggested that officials of the previous administration be charged over the controversy.

However, Topacio said the VACC was not planning to file charges itself.