Roque appeals to Duterte to stop calling out Gordon over weight issues

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to refrain from calling on Senator Richard Gordon to lose weight amid the ongoing Senate probe over the alleged overpriced COVID-19 supplies bought by the government from new firm Pharmally.

The President earlier said Gordon, chairperson of the Senate blue ribbon committee looking into the controversy, should lose weight because his weight is an eyesore.

“Ang advise ko sa iyo, magpapayat ka muna para medyo.. nalilipong ako pag tinitingnan kita p--ang— ‘Wag mo putulin yan ah totoo ‘yan,” Duterte said during his weekly address aired Tuesday morning.

Gordon responded that he has forgiven the President for the personal attacks, but said that while admittedly he is indeed fat, he is more good looking than the Chief Executive.

“Mr. President, I advise you as a friend if you still consider me your friend, pasagot ninyo sa mga bata ninyo ‘yung issue. Bakit ninyo tatawaging mataba ako? Alam ko pong mataba ako, para naman tayong nagpapagandahan na lalaki, palagay ko mananalo naman ako sa inyo pagka nagpagandahang lalaki tayo,” Gordon said.

‘I am fat too’

At his press briefing, Roque replied when asked what is the relevance of Gordon’s weight on the ongoing probe. “Mr. President, huwag mo na sitahin ang katabaan dahil mea culpa, mataba rin ako (please don’t call him out for being fat because I apologize, I am fat too).” 

Roque said he wanted to lose weight but pandemic restrictions closed down gyms and fitness centers as well as prohibited outdoor exercises.

He added that he will follow the President’s advice on losing weight.

“Magpapapayat na rin po ako (I will lose weight also),” Roque said.

Roque has denied that the pandemic supplies purchases from Pharmally which include face mask, face shield and personal protective equipment are overpriced, saying the contracts were awarded to Pharmally based on affordable price and quality of the supplies. — RSJ, GMA News