Duterte accuses Gordon of using Red Cross as ‘milking cow,’ raises Trillanes' plunder complaint

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday accused Senator Richard Gordon of using Philippine Red Cross, the humanitarian organization he heads, as his "milking cow" amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I dare say na ginamit mo talaga ito para sa elections. Ito yung milking cow mo eh. You have been there for quite a time. Is it not fair to say na bumitaw ka na to give others a chance para mahinto mo na yung ginagawa mong kalokohan," Duterte said in his weekly Talk to the People.

He said Gordon was investigating the purchases of COVID-19 supplies not in aid of legislation, but to pursue his "personal political interest," adding he received news that the former was interested in running for vice president in Eleksyon 2022.

Duterte also said Gordon's post at Red Cross and as a member of the Senate is considered "unethical."

"Gordon hinawakan mo na 'yang Red Cross and you control the agency like the way you control everything you are so bossy, I think the true work of the Red Cross is not reflected," Duterte said.

He also took issue with the Red Cross offering allegedly expensive COVID-19 tests without giving discounts to seniors and persons with disabilities.

"Is this not a clear violation of the Senior Citizens Act? Paki sagot lang nito kasi it is a violation to deprive seniors and persons of disabilities of lower prices," Duterte said.

Plunder complaint

Duterte also unearthed the plunder complaint filed against Gordon by "a fellow senator."

"Remember the plunder complaint filed against you by a fellow senator in 2017? You allegedly allocated P200 million for barrel to the Red Cross and used the same for your campaign," Duterte said.

"'Yung P193 million na pork barrel, di mo masabi kung san mo nilagay yun, kung totoo ba o hindi?" Duterte again asked the senator.

In 2017, then Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed a plunder complaint against  Gordon over alleged corrupt practices in the Red Cross.  Trillanes is Duterte's political nemesis.

Trillanes also claimed that part of the P200-million Red Cross funds, P193 million came from the Gordon's PDAF, were used to fund Gordon's presidential and senatorial campaign in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

In response, Gordon described Trillanes' accusation as "fake news."

"Here we go again, palagi naman ganyan 'yan eh, di ba? So, ako fake news na naman 'yan, sa akin eh. Ito ang reality, na tumutulong tayo sa mga nahihirapan," Gordon had said.

Duterte also questioned the anomalies hounding the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which Gordon also previously chaired.

In a Talk to the People on Tuesday, Duterte also criticized Gordon for the latter's "talkathon" during the Senate blue ribbon committee's ongoing probe into the  alleged overpriced pandemic supplies.

In aid of legislation or political interest?

Duterte also asked Gordon if he is conducting an investigation on the medical supplies anomalies of the government due to legislative purposes or political interest.

"I would like to say something.. Gordon, are you really investigating in aid of legislation? or in aid of your personal political interest?" Duterte said.

At one point in the pre-taped Cabinet meeting, Duterte also asked if Gordon is interested in the vice presidential post, he is willing to talk to the senator about political plans.

"I heard that you want to run for vice president next year and you are trying to impress the opposition so that they would consider you. Totoo ba ito Secretary Gordon? Alam mo tatakbo rin ako, kung magusap lang tayo puwede  namang ikaw na magvice president, kung karapa't dapat ka," he added.—LDF, GMA News