By BETHEENA UNITE

Former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo claimed that Senator Risa Hontiveros' intention in linking former president Rodrigo Duterte to a controversial pharmacy anomaly and illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) is to gain relevance for her future political plans.

"Her apparent intention is to malign the character of PRRD and at the same time she wants to be politically relevant and preparing to run for a higher office. She always want to be in the public eye for the name recall and media mileage," Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo said Hontiveros "is desperately bent on connecting" the former president to the controversies on Pharmally and POGO, stressing that there is "no factual and legal bases to link FPRRD in any corrupt practice."

The former presidential spokesman defended Duterte, saying he has "never been involved in his entire public service" in corruption.

Panelo further said that Hontiveros "keeps using her committee to try persons by publicity."

"She keeps using her committee to try persons by publicity— denying them of the due process clause of the Constitution under the guise of legislative inquiry in aid of legislation — as exemplified by what she did to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who have become victims of her injustice," Panelo said.

Panelo also told Hontiveros that instead of "nauseous grandstanding," she should focus on introducing legislative bills that will address poverty, lack of education, and issues on health. public works, agriculture, trade and the like instead of nauseous grandstanding.

"She is wasting taxpayers money. This must stop. She must be fealty to her oath of office," Panelo said.

It can be recalled that Panelo also claimed the same for former senator Antonio Trillanes IV. He said in his previous statement that the charges Trillanes filed against Duterte and Senator Bong Go were intended to give him exposure in preparation for his candidacy in the 2025 elections.