Senators Richard Gordon (left) and Antonio Trillanes IV. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS / LYN RILLON / AP
Senator Richard Gordon chided Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday for opposing the graft charges against former President Benigno Aquino III, which was recommended in his draft report on the Dengvaxia mess.
In an interview over radio dzBB, Gordon, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, criticized individuals who are bringing shame to the country, especially “‘yung tao na nag-kudeta.”
“Pinatawad ‘yan, lahat yan pinatawad ni Aquino eh, ‘yan ang problema eh… Ngayon ‘di tama ‘yan, kaya di ko nalang pinapatulan… Naiintindihan ng tao ‘yan malalaman at malalaman ‘yan,” he said.
“Ganun din siya kung tirahin nya ako laitin niya ako ganun na lang. ‘Di ako makikipagbuno sa ganyan. Sabi ng nanay at tatay ko parang kapag nakipagbuno ka sa baboy talo ka pa rin bakit, may putik ka pa rin. Mahilig sa putik yan e, ikaw dapat di ka mahilig sa putik,” he continued.
Trillanes, in a dzBB interview right after Gordon’s, downplayed the latter’s comments, saying he had already “paid his dues” in prison for seven and a half years.
“Teka muna eh nakulong ako ng 7 1/2 taon eh. I have paid my dues. It’s not as if after committing something eh hindi ako nakatuntong sa kulungan… Ngitngit na lang ‘yan ni Senator Gordon kasi talagang bumabalandra sa kanya yung ginagawa niya,” Trillanes said.
While he was grateful for the amnesty given by Aquino to him and other soldiers involved in the Oakwood Mutiny in July 2003, and the Manila Peninsula siege in November 2007, Trillanes said he still opposed some of Aquino’s policies which he deemed as “detrimental to Filipinos.”
“I am grateful dun sa pagbigay sa amnesty ni President Aquino pero nung sya ay nakaupo ilang polisiya nya ay kinontra ko rin kagaya nung K-12 saka yung Reproductive Health law na ‘yan. sa paniniwala ko ito ay detrimental sa mga Pilipino. Pinanindigan ko ‘yan at kinontra ko ‘yan,” he said.
Last Wednesday, Gordon presented his draft report on the P3 billion botched mass immunization program.
His report recommended that Aquino, former Health Secretary Janette Garin, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, and other former officials be charged for violating among others, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
READ: Aquino, Abad, Garin ‘caused’ Dengvaxia ‘tragedy’ – draft report
But Trillanes, as well as Sen. Panfilo Lacson, criticized the recommendation to lodge graft charges against Aquino.
READ: 2 solons oppose raps vs Aquino
Gordon is on the process of asking committee members to sign the report before presenting it to the plenary for approval. He said at least 10 committee members had already signed the report. /cbb
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