Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 31) — President Rodrigo Duterte dared senators to investigate all government agencies with financial transactions or practices flagged by the independent Commission of Audit (COA), accusing the lawmakers of investigating only the departments of their choice.
“Bakit hindi ninyo imbestigahan lahat? Lahat ng na-flag. Marami ang na-flag, hindi lang ang DOH. Kaya lang ang DOH high-profile because of the COVID situation,” he said during an address that was recorded late Monday night but aired by the state broadcast network Tuesday morning.
[Translation: Why don’t you investigate everyone who got flagged? Many (agencies) got flagged, not just DOH. The DOH is just high-profile because of the COVID situation.]
The Department of Health is among the departments tagged by the COA over its handling of funds, eventually becoming the subject of probes both in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“Maraming na-flag [Many got flagged]. There are about, almost everybody na-flag…namimili eh [they’re being selective],” said Duterte.
He also likened senators investigating how the government’s pandemic response funds were used to interrogators in Nazi Germany, noting how attendees are being bombarded with questions during hours-long Senate hearings.
“I think the last time was about seven hours the longest. Baligtarin mo para kang German interrogators noon sa Nazi. Baligtarin ka nang baligtarin, “Oh ‘di ba ganito ‘yan?” hanggang ‘yung pati si [former Budget Usec. Lloyd Christopher] Lao natulala na,” said Duterte.
[Translation: You will be flipped like German interrogators did during the Nazi period. You will be flipped and flipped, asked “It’s like this, right?” up to the point where even former Budget Usec. Lloyd Christopher Lao is at a loss for words.]
The chief executive likewise slammed Senator Richard Gordon, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, for his manner of investigation.
“The problem in this inquiry is it reeks with malice. You have already passed judgment on the people you have called, appeared before the committee hearing,” said Duterte. “You ask questions and you also answer. You would not even let the person answer kasi ikaw talkative.”
Gordon, meanwhile, assured he’s just following the President’s “dictum” of fighting corruption and they are just being open and transparent with their hearings.
“Mr. President, I advise you as a friend, if you still consider me as a friend…pasagutin niyo sa mga bata ninyo ‘yung [let them answer the] issue,” said the senator.
The senator also addressed the insults Duterte hurled at him regarding his weight during the taped address.
“Bakit niyo tatawaging mataba ako? Alam ko pong mataba ako. Hindi naman tayo dito nagpapagandahang lalaki e. Palagay ko mananalo naman ako sa inyo pag nagpagandahang lalaki tayo,” said Gordon in an online briefing later.
[Translation: Why would you call me fat? I know I’m fat. We’re not having a handsome contest here. I think I would win against you if we did.]
Gordon also said he forgives Duterte despite the insults, adding he knows a person is “weak” if they resort to personal attacks.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who was also attacked by Duterte during his speech, said the president is “in panic mode.” Duterte addressed Lacson during his speech, asking him if he’s honest and if he says yes, he will be presenting something in the “next program.”
“[I]t is not difficult to think that he is in panic mode and is attempting as he has already done earlier to discourage the Senate from pursuing our investigation in the highly anomalous procurement of overpriced medical supplies that is starting to knock on the doors of Malacañang,” said the lawmaker in a statement.
Duterte earlier called on the public not to believe Senate probes, arguing they lead to nothing anyway.
