“Someone who is out on a cleansing act should come with clean hands himself.”
As a senator who’s known for launching congressional investigations on matters concerning anomalous transactions involving government funds and officials, Richard Gordon has become a household name as an anti-corruption crusader.
However, if we are to believe President Rodrigo Duterte, Gordon, who is seeking a reelection this coming May 9, is nothing but another holier-than-thou legislator who could be equally guilty as the ones he is investigation
According to Duterte, Gordon is fond of wearing a Rolex watch the cost of which range from P500,000 to P5 million.
Duterte also alleged Gordon maintains a fleet of luxury vehicles including a Cadillac Escalade SUV which reportedly costs about P17 million.
Gordon is also said to own several condominium units in Pacific Plaza in BGC, Taguig. The cost of a condo unit in Pacific Plaza BGC can range between P90 million all the way up to P250 million. One of his condo units is now used by his daughter.
So, where does Gordon source his funds to afford such a luxurious lifestyle as alleged by the President?
According to Duterte, Gordon has yet to return the disallowed funds worth P86 million, which he incurred when he was still SBMA chairman. The President furthers Gordon to be allegedly involved in several anomalies including allegations that he pocketed P8 million worth of pork barrel funds.
The so-called pork barrel queen Janet Lim Napoles has earlier revealed that she gave P8 million to Gordon for his 2010 campaign funds, and that the money was delivered to his condo 36-C, South Garden Unit in Pacific Plaza.
I really appreciate Gordon’s probe on anomalous government transactions, especially the most recent one on Pharmally. In fact, I have been egging him to effect the arrest warrant the Senate issued against former Pharmally executive Rose Nono Lin but with such accusations coming from no less than the President, it has become imperative he clears his name on those matters. From being a hunter, he has now emerged as the one being hunted.
He should be aware that for someone who is out on a cleansing act, should come with clean hands himself. The principle of the Clean Hands Doctrine.
On the Easter Sunday presscon
I was supposed to write my take on the press conference conducted by three presidential candidates—Senator Ping Lacson, former Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Mayor Isko Domagoso—last Easter Sunday.
But then, my partner in my radio program, Jenni Munar, shared with me her reaction, which I decided to use instead as not only I deem it is a sound analysis, but it also bears the same analysis as I have.
Here’s Jenni’s take on the trio’s press briefing:
The recent Easter presscon was not even worth mentioning, for as you can see they are only attacking fellow candidates and presenting themselves as alternate candidates. The statements given by the participants are conflicting as well, so why waste your time? But, as always, the Chameleons (from Yellow to Pink) are changing the narratives whether they don’t understand or just want to capture their desired “soundbites.”
Nevertheless, what’s new? In a gist, they issued caution that if BBM wins there would be chaos and one even said that he can’t believe that there are more than 50 percent loyalists in this Country. For one, those who are rooting for BBM are just disappointed that after 36 years we are stuck in reverse, we are getting worse, those who are rooting for BBM saw that life was far better during the Marcos years and you can’t blame them.
So more than 50 percent just wanted to have a new kind of leadership. Second, enough saying that they are only attacking Leni, it may sound that way but look deeper beyond their action, those who attended are lagging behind the survey. One presented as an alternative, while one who gets only .001 percentage has the guts to warn us, and tell us to be more cautious.
For me, in short, the presscon simply confirmed that they accepted that the Presidential Survey may be True, even though they reverberate it’s not.
This election is not all about Marcos and the Yellow/Pink gang. This is more about our country, our future … By the way, enough saying that BBM doesn’t have any platforms, if you listen to him, his platforms are very realistic and can uplift our present condition, while the other one promises to give jobs to everyone, free hospitalization etc. etc. (which entails a lot of cost and all of which are just promises, it’s easier to say those things than do it, for the love of me I can’t fathom how she will do it). Am sure a lot are already very sure whom he/she wanted to support (no need to berate those who are rooting for BBM, for it won’t work).
This election divides us, but at the end of the day, it’s all about what is good for this country.
Pause for a while, open your mind, stop spreading “false news and narratives.” Think beyond what is presented and pray for discernment.