Gordon says Duterte's 'mukhang pera' remark 'not presidential,' blames Duque for it

Senator Richard Gordon on Friday claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark that the Philippine Red Cross is "mukang pera (greedy)" was due to a “misleading” statement by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

"I think he was misled by the statement because the way the predicate was laid by Secretary Duque was wrong," Gordon, who chairs PRC, said in a virtual press chat.

"Sinabi niya, 'Nag-test na ulit nung biniyaran'," he added.

PRC has stopped accepting tests chargeable to PhilHealth after the state insurer incurred debt amounting to P930 million. PhilHealth waited for clearance from the Department of Justice before releasing the initial payment.

Duque, in his report to Duterte, said the PRC resumed testing swab specimens after PhilHealth paid an initial P500 million of its debt.

Gordon said the number of COVID-19 tests being conducted by the PRC has reached 10,000 per day.

"At binaba na namin ang hinihinging presyo ng PhilHealth," Gordon said. "If they (PhilHealth) continues to pay the P100 million regularly, bababa ang cost to P3,300 or P3,200."

Remark 'not presidential'

While Gordon said he was not offended by Duterte's remark against the PRC, he advised the President to be mindful with his words.

"I think the President should really be careful. Minsan hindi niya alam that the statement is not really presidential," he said.

In a separate interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, Gordon said the PRC is not greedy as he emphasized that PhilHealth is the one that tapped its services.

'Hindi kami mukang pera'

"Hindi kami mukhang pera. Pero sabi ko lang, dahan-dahan naman sa pananalita because nakakatulong naman kami. Hindi naman kami umutang, sila ang umutang, sila nagpa-test, ginawa namin. 'Di ba dapat bayaran ninyo?" he said.

Nevertheless, the senator told reporters in the virtual chat that he would rather focus on COVID-19 and rehabilitation efforts after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.

"I'm not going to mind it... huwag na natin palakihin... Nabigla lang siguro ‘yan," he said.

"Hindi naman siguro mini-mean ni Presidente 'yun," Gordon added.  —KBK, GMA News