Before criticizing the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee as a "kangaroo court", lawyer Ferdinand Topacio had reached out to Senator Richard Gordon to lobby for his wife's appointment to the Court of Appeals (CA).
Gordon made the disclosure as the reacted on Topacio's reported threat to file charges against senators for pressing his client, Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation director Linconn Ong, to divulge information about the company's transactions with the government for the procurement of COVID-19 supplies.
Ong, on Topacio's advice, backed out from meeting senators in an executive session.
"Nakikiusap pa siya na ipa-appoint 'yong kanyang asawa sa Court of Appeals (He was appealing that his wife be appointed to the CA). 'Yan ang pagkatao niya (That's his character). He uses everything to try and get a purchase on anything," Gordon said in an online interview with reporters.
Gordon, as chairman of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, is an ex-officio member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), with Leyte Representative Vicente Veloso, a retired CA associate justice, as his counterpart.
The JBC screens and recommends appointments to the judiciary branch. Only those nominated by the council may be appointed by the President as justices, judges, or ombudsman, or deputy ombudsman.
Gordon said Topacio has also represented other individuals who were involved in various controversies previously investigated by the Senate, including those who figured in the fertilizer fund scam and money laundering controversy concerning Bangladesh.
"Lahat ng scam, halos, dumarating siya (He always appears when there is a scam, almost every time)," he said.
"Noong araw naglululuhod ka sa akin, nakikiusap ka 'pag hinahabol ko 'yong kliyente mo (You were kneeling before me, pleading for your clients)," Gordon recalled.
Gordon said he could cite Topacio in contempt for insulting the Senate.
He clarified that Topacio is a friend, and acknowledged his job to defend his client, but the senator said the lawyer cannot accuse the Blue Ribbon Committee of being a "kangaroo court".
"Kung babastusin niya ang Blue Ribbon, ibang usapan 'yon (If he would disrespect the Blue Ribbon Committee, that's another matter)," Gordon said.
In a separate interview, Topacio stood firm on his statements, saying he has the right to criticize the Senate committee. He alleged that the rights of resource persons invited to the hearings are "consistently violated".
Senators slammed Topacio for his remarks.