Friday, September 10, 2021

Duterte says Dick Gordon is afraid of audit: Nasaan na ang binigay ng gobyerno, PCSO, Pagcor sa Red Cross? Kulang oras mo sa pag-cover-up!

President Rodrigo Duterte has turned the tables on portly and loudmouth Senator Dick Gordon, the self-styled bulldog investigator of corruption.

“Ikaw, Gordon, mahilig kang mag-imbestiga ng anomalya, katiwalian, pero pagdating sa iyong Red Cross…ngayon na ikaw na ‘yung i-audit, ayaw mo. Bakit?” said Duterte in a briefing.

Duterte said under the 1987 Constitution, the Philippine Red Cross should be subject to annual scrutiny by the Commission on Audit being a non-governmental organization (NGO) receiving subsidy or equity from the government.

Duterte said the Constitution also mandated that state-subsidized NGOs like Red Cross submit to the President and Congress an annual report on its financial condition and operation.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque pointed out that Red Cross employees were members of the Government Service Insurance System which proved that it was “public in character.”

Duterte said the Philippine Red Cross Act itself recognized the organization as a “voluntary, independent and autonomous nongovernmental society auxiliary to the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines.”

“It is provided that ‘the Philippine Red Cross shall, at the end of every calendar year, submit to the President of the Philippines an annual report containing its activities and showing its financial condition’. Senator Gordon, hindi mo ito ginawa — hindi mo ito ginawa. Wala akong nabasa galing sa iyo,” said Duterte.

“Kailangan ‘yan. Alam mo bakit? Mga kababayan ko, alam mo bakit? Hindi puwede sabihin ‘yang Red Cross na independent na — independent na hindi na maabot ng gobyerno. ‘Pag may pera maski sino, ‘pag ang pera galing sa gobyerno ibinigay sa kamay mo para i-implement mo isang project, the receiving entity or the person automatically is responsible for that money,” he added.

Duterte was not surprised why Gordon was alarmed by his previous order to audit Red Cross

“Itong sabi ni Gordon na hindi siya puwedeng ma-audit is takot ka. Takot ka kasi alam mo marami ka ng atraso all throughout the years and you cannot possibly have the time to cover up everything. Bakit ka sabi na hindi ka tumatanggap ng pera? Tumatanggap ka ng pera galing sa PAGCOR, tumatanggap ka ng pera sa itong sugal? PCSO Kasali ka pa sa sugal pala,” said Duterte.

He noted that Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office allocated at least one lottery draw yearly to support the Red Cross disaster relief operation, aside from the existing lottery draws of the blood program.

“I would like to contradict you publicly and maybe lecture you — pareho man tayo abogado — on the finer points of law. Kung ang iyong Red Cross mo tumatanggap ng pera, gumagastos ng pera ng gobyerno, you are subject to an audit. Hindi puwedeng hindi,” said Duterte.

“Kailangan malaman namin kung ‘yung binigay namin sa iyo ng ilang taon na, nasaan na, Senator Gordon? I am demanding an answer. And I am going to ask for the copies of the audit so that we can go over it and compare it with the copies of the audit sa COA. We can dwell on it, delve on it, and find out if you have been faithful to your country and to your office,” he added.

Duterte also questioned why Gordon has clung on to his post as Red Cross chairman for 17 years. “Ang Red Cross hinawakan mo, parang propiedad mo, for the longest time hindi ka na natanggal diyan, dapat palitan ka na pero kontrolado mo kasi eh. Napapaiyak tuloy ako sa iyo. T*** i**. Sandali,” said Duterte.