If most of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet men are in the Senate, then who was left in Malacañang with the President?
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero raised this question in jest on Monday as he noted the presence of several Cabinet members in the ongoing hearing of the Senate committee on national defense on the P15.7 billion frigates deal controversy.
Aside from Secretary Christopher “Bong” Go, who had reportedly intervened in the acquisition of the two frigates by the Philippine Navy, other Cabinet members who also showed up at the Senate inquiry include: Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Pete Cayetano .
“Sino pong kasama ni Pangulong Duterte ngayon…Sino pong naiwan sa bahay?” Escudero asked.
“S’ya (Duterte) lang po. S’ya lang mag-isa,” Go answered, drawing laughter from the Senate Session Hall where the hearing is being held.
Go earlier denied reports that he had intervened in the Navy’s acquisition project, saying he was just dragged into the controversy to destabilize the Duterte administration.
READ: Bong Go: I was dragged in frigate controversy to destroy Duterte
“Inosente at dinamay lang po ako sa isyung ito upang siraan ang administrayon ni Pangulong Duterte,” he told the committee, reading from a prepared statement. /kga