Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said yesterday that Senator Richard Gordon will remain as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, citing the latter’s being “very passionate” in doing the job.

Last Thursday, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV – who has been at odds with Gordon – said he would work very hard for the ouster of Pimentel as Senate chief if he does not replace the Blue Ribbon chairman.

“Senator Gordon will stay as chair ng Blue Ribbon Committee,” Pimentel said in a radio interview. “Hindi naman niya hiningi yan, binigay yan. Saka ang preferred dyan sa Blue Ribbon dapat abogado (He did not ask for that position, it was given to him. Besides, it’s preferred to have a lawyer heading the Blue Ribbon),” he added.

The Senate President noted how Gordon has been very passionate in performing his job as well as his capacity to make adjustments as other senators would have it.

“Binigyan ng five to 10 minutes na makapagtanong… Kaya wala kang masasabi na hindi napapagbigyan na di nadedevelop yung kanyang theory,” he said, citing how Gordon gave Trillanes his time to ask during the inquiry into the R5.4-billion shabu shipment from China.

“I went there to see it personally. Binigyan na ng time, naaddress na. Tapos limang beses mong tatanungin na nasagot na para sa propaganda sa taong bayan… Nagfocus sa tattoo, anong kinalaman? So sino ang may pagkukulang? Si chairman Gordon o yung nagpumilit sa tattoo? Anong naprove dun?” Pimentel said.

Pimentel, a known Duterte ally, shrugged off Trillanes’ threat to work for his removal as Senate President just because he would not act on the Bicolano legislator’s opposition to Gordon’s heading of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

“Like I said, this is a free country… Gawin na lang niya, kung makaconvince siya ng 12 pa – 13 kasama siya – sila na ang magdesisyon (Let him [Trillanes] do it, if he can convince 12 more to get 13 votes and they decide),” he said.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]