Senators hold inquiries for exposure ahead of Eleksyon 2022 –Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte accused senators of holding Senate inquiries for “exposure” as the 2022 national elections were fast approaching.

In a taped briefing aired Saturday morning, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said various government officials are wasting time and effort in attending the Congressional hearings instead of doing their job to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said these inquiries could have been avoided should the lawmakers read the “voluminous” reports that they sent to Congress on Bayanihan 1 and 2 Laws.

“At the very least, they would have at least cared to read those reports so we could have avoided these hearings… this daily hearing, your honor. They are only on their fifth day, and I think they intend to break the record on the hearing of the Binay investigation for 25 days, your honor. We’re wasting so much time and effort in fighting a pandemic, your honor. We cannot waste a day hearing on all these matters, your honor,” Medialdea said.

Duterte affirmed Medialdea’s position, mentioning vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. was one of the officials who was frequently called in on Congressional hearings.

“Papaano tayo makatrabaho neto kung nandoon kayo? (How can we work if you are all there?) Well anyway, I’ll tell you why. The reason is, it is election time and they want exposure and they think that if they come up with certain corruption cases, true or false, they can get the mileage,” Duterte said.

“The only reason also why we are doing it to them is because they cannot have… Gordon cannot have his cake and eat it too. So, ‘yung tinutumbok n’ya e sasagot ako (I will respond to what Gordon is pointing out),” the president added, referring to Senator Richard Gordon who is leading the Senate investigation on the alleged overpriced pandemic-related goods.

He further accused Gordon of using dismissed Police Colonel Eduardo Acierto in his investigations.

Duterte reiterated his allegations against Acierto, claiming he was behind the importation of AK-47 rifles, which were allegedly given to the New People’s

He also mentioned Acierto’s alleged involvement in the importation of shabu which was found packed inside the magnetic lifters and his alleged participation in the extortion of Chinese businessmen.

“‘Yan ang trabaho ni Acierto (That is Acierto’s job). He is guilty of treason against the country and a criminal at that, and he is being utilized by Gordon… Kaya Gordon sumabay ka na kay Acierto pareha na kayo, halos pareha na ang style  niyo (That’s why Gordon, you belong with Acierto because you have almost the same style),” Duterte said.

“Namumulitika itong si Gordon using itong (Gordon is politicking using these) dubious characters and underworld characters who became a character in police files for committing crimes,” he added.

GMA News Online has sought Gordon’s comment on the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. — DVM, GMA News