President Duterte has accused Senator Richard Gordon of using the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as his "milking cow" when it comes to his election funds.
In the continuation of his tirades against Gordon on Thursday night, Sept. 2, Duterte asked the senator to explain why he has been holding on to his position as PRC chairman despite his being a lawmaker.
"If the Red Cross is also a government agency tapos member ka ng Congress (and you are a member of Congress), tumatakbo ka rin, at nanalo ka (you also ran for public office and you won), and you're holding the Red Cross, you are the top honcho there, and being the Senator at the same time, eh medyo malabo ata yang ginagawa mo...paki-clear lang ito (there's something fishy about what you're doing...please explain it)," Duterte said during the pre-recorded "Talk to the People" public briefing.
The PRC is classified as an international non-government organization (NGO).
"Is the Red Cross saving money so that it would eventually pass a resolution to set aside a big amount to fund your election plans just like the funds you used in the 2010...campaign?
"Alam mo ginagamit mo talaga itong Red Cross (You know you have really been using this Red Cross), and I dare say na ginamit mo talaga ito para sa elections (you are really using this for the elections). Ito yung milking cow mo eh sa totoo lang (This is your milking cow, to be honest)," Duterte said.
The Chief Executive first launched a diatribe against Gordon during Monday’s public briefing wherein the former expressed displeasure over the way the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has been conducting its inquiries on government agencies in connection with the results of the 2020 audit report by the Commission on Audit (COA).
Gordon chairs the Senate panel, which focuses on cases of alleged graft and corruption.
"You have been there (PRC) for quite a time. Is it not fair to say now na bumitaw ka na (that it's time to leave) and give others a chance at para mahinto na yung ginagawa mong kalokohan (in order to put a stop to your shenanigans)?" Duterte said.
"Even before I entered politics, Gordon hinawakan mo na yang Red Cross (you were already in charge of Red Cross) and you control the agency like the way you control everything. You are so bossy and the true work of the Red Cross is not reflected in your actuations," Duterte said, as if trying to hit a raw nerve.
The President then vented on two things about the Gordon-led PRC that irked him amid the ongoing pandemic:
"Red Cross is supposed to be a non-profit organization. But amid the onset of the pandemic, Red Cross under you charged testing at an astronomical rate for around P4,700 apiece, without any discount for senior citizens or persons with disabilities. Is this not a clear violation of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act? Pakisagot lang nito (Please answer this)," he said.
"Ito pang isa ang ayaw ko sa iyo (Here's another thing I don't like about you): At the time that we were busy testing everybody at humingi kami ng tulong sa inyo (and we asked help from you), Red Cross...Red Cross is supposed to be a humanitarian organization but when government was struggling to source funds, you threatened to stop testing," he recalled.
According to Duterte, Gordon was "mad" at the prospect of not getting paid for PRC's testing service.
"Alam mo (You know)...I cannot see the rationale of your statement you threaten government with something which ought to be done by you irrespective of whether or not may pera ba o wala (there is money or no money).
"Because in this kind of situation or transactions with government, foremost is really the fact that everybody wants to help," Duterte said.
Duterte had previously described Gordon as being too talkative as well as a show-off.