Senator Richard Gordon may have taken a swipe at President Duterte during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's hearing Friday, Sept. 24, as an executive of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation confirmed meeting President Duterte when he was working for former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang.
At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's ninth hearing on the Department of Health's (DOH) purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gordon asked anew Pharmally director Linconn Ong about his ties with Yang.
He flashed a photo that has been circulating on social media showing Ong, Yang, and Duterte in the Palace.
"Nakikita ko po 'yang litrato na 'yan, yes po...Totoo po 'yan (I have been seeing that photo, yes...That is authentic)," Ong told Gordon.
The senator then jested: "Ano 'yan (What's that)? The good, the bad, and the ugly?"
"Biro lang ha, sorry. Tatlo kayo, eh. 'Di ko lang matiis, eh (I'm just kidding, sorry. Because you were three in the photo. I can't help it)," Gordon said.
"'Di ko lang alam kung sino ang good, sino ang bad, sino ang ugly (I just don't know who is the good one, the bad one, or the ugly one)," he continued.
Ong previously disclosed that he worked as a translator for Yang. Ong said Pharmally sought Yang's help in supplying the equipment needed by the DOH for pandemic response.
Ong later admitted that Yang paid the advances for the firm for some of their deals with suppliers.
Duterte and Gordon have been exchanging tirades since the Senate panel started digging up the alleged anomalies in the DOH's procurement of the COVID-19 supplies and equipment.
The President called Gordon a "show-off", a "talkative", and even advised the senator to lose weight.
Gordon, on the other hand, called Duterte a "cheap politician".