Pimentel says Gordon will stay as blue ribbon panel chairman

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III on Wednesday said Senator Richard Gordon should stay as chairman of the blue ribbon committee despite sentiments against the way the lawmaker handles the panel's hearings.

Pimentel said if there are issues against Gordon's blue ribbon chairmanship, it can be settled in a caucus.

“Siguro isang caucus tungkol dyan. Baka caucus lang ‘yan para ma-thresh out ‘yung issue,” he said in a news forum.

Gordon's handling of the blue ribbon panel's inquiries has been questioned by Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson claimed that several senators are complaining how Gordon monopolizes hearings that he chairs and seldom gives other lawmakers a chance to ask questions.

“Hindi makasingit eh. Pinapanood ko nga ibang kasamahan ko. At kapag sa lounge kami pinag-uusapan namin ‘yan. Sina Senators (Joseph Victor) Ejercito, (Sherwin) Gatchalian, (Risa) Hontiveros,  (Bam) Aquino, minsan nakikita ko sumasama sa hearing pero pagdating sa lounge ‘yan ang topic nila. Sabi nila, ‘kanina magsasalita na sana ako 'di na naman ako natuloy.’ Wala raw sila pinakakaabangan kundi mag-CR si Senator Gordon para sila naman makapagtanong,” he said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

Lacson said he read the transcript of the hearings on the Dengvaxia probe and noticed that Gordon does not allow resource persons to finish answering especially those who goes against his conclusion.

“Siya ang nagtatanong, siya ang sumasagot. 'Pag may sumagot ng ‘hindi po sir, hindi po ganyan,’ ipipilit niya ang kanya. So bakit ka pa nag-investigate ng resource person? Kitang kita roon na meron na siyang conclusion at ang investigation na ginagawa niya mag-shoot sa kanyang conclusion,” he said.

Lacson issued the statements as he answered Gordon's allegation that he did not sign the blue ribbon's report on the Dengvaxia investigation because he owed former President Benigno Aquino III.

The panel had recommended that Aquino and other members of his Cabinet to be investigated for graft over the Dengvaxia purchase.

Pimentel, meanwhile, said did not experience this with Gordon when he did joined the blue ribbon committee's hearing on alleged road right of way scam in General Santos City.

“Sa blue ribbon namin sa road right of way sa GenSan nakapagsalita naman kami ni Senator (Manny) Pacquiao.  Siguro hindi lang namin naranasan ‘yung naranasan ng iba. Baka nagkataon lang,” he said.

Hardworking

During the briefing, Pimentel said that Gordon did not request for the chairmanship of the blue ribbon committee.

“I need to give credit where credit is due. Hindi hiningi ni Gordon ang chairmanship. Bakante ‘yan sa napakahabang panahon, siya ang pinakiusapan ko," the Senate President said.

"Ano ba problema he is working very hard, it’s just a little airtime for others, a little adjustment. Why do we need to oust the chairman if that’s the only problem, ilan ang ongoing workload niya,” he said.

"Iyan po ay binigay sa kanya kasi napakabigat na trabaho at posisyon kasi nag-iimbestiga ka at may potential na magalit sa ‘yo,” he reiterated.

Dengvaxia report

Meanwhile, Pimentel said that the blue ribbon panel's report on its inquiry into the Dengvaxia controversy will be tackled in the plenary once session resumes in June.

“Pagdating sa plenary will be another round, all can speak out there,” he said.

Once submitted to the plenary, the senators can interpellate the sponsor or committee chairman on the content of the report.

Several senators have opposed the part of the draft committee report which states that Aquino was one of the main conspirators in the Dengvaxia mess. —ALG, GMA News