Gordon to Duterte: Spare me a lecture about character, you hardly know what it means

Senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday clapped back at President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent tirades against him, saying the chief executive should spare him a lecture about character as he “hardly knows” what it means.

The lawmaker was reacting to Duterte’s latest remark about the former's “shouting” during the series of Senate investigation into the COVID-19 supplies procurement.

"Ito dapat si Gordon maglipat siya sa judiciary. Doon siya magsigaw-sigaw," Duterte said in a pre-recorded Talk to the People Monday night.

"'Yang ugali na 'yan, this is not feudal times you have to be courteous if you want to be treated with courtesy, you have to practice it," he added.

In a statement, Gordon's response did not mince words and mentioned about Duterte’s “arrogance of power.”

“So spare me a lecture about character, especially from someone who hardly knows what it means,” Gordon said.

“If it is arrogance of power the President is so concerned about, our people know too well who between us has abused his power and has enabled massive corruption to permeate in our government,” he added.

The lawmaker justified his “outrage,” saying he raised his voice to people who “shamelessly lie or hide the truth.”

“I cannot keep silent at how the government was swindled by a gang of rich kids in cahoots with greedy public officials,” he said.

Gordon added that he was only “enraged” when he raised his voice to “people who blatantly curse my God and disrespect our women.”

“I am enraged at how these disparaging insults are going on unchecked and unchallenged at the expense of our faith and our sense of humanity,” the lawmaker said.

“Yes, I raise my voice because our people, especially our healthcare workers and essential front-liners, are suffering for long, losing their jobs and livelihood, getting sick, and their loved ones are dying due to government’s neglect and inaction,” he explained.

GMA News Online has reached out to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque for his comments  but he has yet to reply as of posting time.

Gordon has been the subject of Duterte’s ire as he continue to lead the Senate investigation into the Department of Health's use of COVID-19 funds.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is also looking into the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service's purchase of P8.6-billion worth of face masks, face shields, and PPEs from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, a firm that is being linked to former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang.

The company only had a P625,000 paid-up capital when it entered transactions with the government.—AOL/RSJ, GMA News