Column of ENGR. Nelson P. Ramirez for Pinoy Shimbun.
The widely read Filipino Newspaper in Japan.
Ibang Klaseng Opensiba ni Sen. Gordon
Habang nakipagbakbakan ang ating mga magigiting na sundalo sa mga teroristang Abu Sayyaf sa Mindanao, ibang klaseng opensiba naman ang ginawa ni Senador Richard Gordon nang pumunta siya sa Jolo. Dinala niya ang medical team ng Philippine Red Cross upang magsagawa ng medical mission sa ating mga kababayang Muslim na napinsala dahil sa mga kaguluhang nagaganap sa kanilang kapaligiran kahit hindi naman sila direktang kasali roon.
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Marami sa ating mga kababayang Muslim ang nagkakasakit at namatay na hindi man lang nakakita ng doktor dahil sa malayo sila sa kabihasnan at dahil na rin kahirapan. ‘Yan ang isa sa mga dahilan na nagtutulak ng marami sa kanila na sumama sa mga masasamang elemento at maghasik ng kasamaan sa gawing katimugan ng Mindanao dahil sa pakiramdam nila ay napabayaan na sila ng ating pamahalaan.
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Si Sen. Gordon ay naniniwala na ang labanan sa Mindanao ay matatapos sa pamamagitan ng palitan ng bala sa pagitan ng ating mga sundalo at rebelde. Sa ating kasaysayan, tanging ang Jolo lamang ang hindi nalupig ng mga dayuhan. Hindi nagtagumpay ang Kastila at Hapon sa kanilang pananakop.
Kaya sa pagpunta ng butihing Senador doon kamakailan, dala niya ang mga doctors at nurses at dala din niya ang isang C-130 airplane na ginagamit ng Armed Forces of the Philippines upang magdala ng medesina at sa pagbalik naman ng nasabing eroplano sa Manila ay may lulan na itong mga ibat-ibang prutas at produkto ng Jolo upang maibenta sa mataas na halaga at maging dagdag kabuhayan para sa nasabing lugar.
Tinawag ni Gordon na “Fruits of Hope” ang kanyang programa na umani nang maraming mga papuri sa maraming kababayan nating Muslim, partikular sa katimugang Bahagi ng Mindanao. Naniniwala si Gordon na ang mga prutas mula sa Jolo at Sulu ang siyang magiging harbingers of peace sa pagitan ng mga sundalong militar at rebeldeng Muslim.
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Ang isla ng Jolo ay sagad sa biyaya ng kalikasan. Ang mga prutas na kagaya ng mangosteen, durian, lanzones, marang, dalanghita ay tumutubo lang na ligaw kahit saan. Mayaman din ang Jolo sa lamang-dagat ngunit hindi nila naibebenta ang kanilang mga produkto sa tamang halaga dahil sa kakulangan sa transportasyon. Naibebenta lang nila ng medyo maganda-gandang presyo kung ito ay madadala nila sa Zamboanga, kaya kadalasan nabubulok na lang ang kanilang mga paninda. Alam ko ito dahil isinilang at lumaki ako sa Mindanao at tumira ako sa Jolo at Basilan.
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Kamakailan lamang umani ng papuri si Sen. Gordon nang nagbigay siya ng isang privilege speech sa Senado upang ipagtanggol ang ating mga marino na pinagsamantalahan ng mga ganid na may-ari ng maritime training centers na kakuntsaba ng mga tiwaling opisyal ng pamahalaan. Ibinulgar ni Gordon ang mga katiwalian sa industriya maritima at pamumunuan niya ang isang malawakang imbestigasyon upang masugpo ang mga anomalya na nagaganap sa nasabing industriya. Si Gordon na ngayon ang tinuturing na bayani ng mga marino.
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Ibang klase talaga si Sen. Gordon. Nauuna siyang dumating sa lugar kung saan may sakuna at kalamidad. Nung nagkaroon ng malawakang pagyanig sa bansa noong 1990, isa siya sa pinakaunang opisyal ng bansa bilang opisyal ng Philippine National Red Cross na sumuporta para sa gumuhong paaralan sa Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. Pagkatapos, tumuloy din siya agad sa Baguio City upang tumulong rin sa pagsalba sa mga nasawi at survivors ng isang gumuhong hotel sa lugar bunga ng malakas na pagyanig.
Nung pumutok ang Mt. Pinatubo sa Zambales noong 1991, si Senador Gordon ang namuno para iligtas ang daan-dang mga Aetas na naninirahan sa paanan ng nasabing bulkan. Kasalukuyan pa lang siyang mayor noon ng Olongapo City pero lumabas siya sa kanyang teritoryo para manguna sa pagtulong ng kanyang mga kababayang Aetas.
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Nung nagkaroon ng malawakang baha sa Olongapo City noong 1994 kung saan si Senador Gordon ay Chairman na ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, pinangunahan niya rin ang pagliligtas ng ilang daang pamilya na sinalanta ng malaking baha dahil hindi na kayang abutan ng anumang rescue teams na manggagaling pa sa Manila. Kung wala siya sa panahong iyon, ay malamang marami ang nangasawi sa trahedyang iyon.
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Sa naganap na Ormoc tragedy nung late 90s, nandun din sa Senador Gordon upang manguna sa relief and rescue operations. Nandun rin siya para manguna sa rescue and relief operations sa nangyaring landslide sa St. Bernard sa Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte. Nang pumutok ang SARS epidemic sa bansa, nanguna rin si Sen. Gordon para tumulong sa pag-apula ng endemya sa bansa. Basta may sakuna, siguradong naroon ang ating butihing Senador kaya hindi na nakakapagtaka na makita siya sa Jolo upang magsagawa ng relief operations at magbigay ng masiglang pag-asa na puwede pang makamit ang pangmalawakang kapayapaan sa katimugang bahagi ng Mindanao.
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Ang katangiang ito ang nagdala kay Senador Richard Gordon para tanghaling Chairman ng Philippine National Red Cross. Bilang pinuno ng Red Cross, siya ang nagdala sa Pilipinas ng pinakaunang state-of-the-art Red Cross mobile rescue and ambulance truck na ngayon ay nagagamit na ng organisayon para agad rumesponde sa mga sakuna sa anumang bahagi ng bansa. May ilang beses na rin niyang binigyan ng karangalan ang bansa bilang pinuno ng Red Cross sa international front.
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Talaga namang hinding-hindi matatawaran ang puso ni Sen. Gordon sa oras ng pagtulong sa kanyang kapwa. Bukod pa doon ay kilalang-kilala na ang kanyang leadership qualities na ilang beses niya na ring ipinamalas sa buong bansa. Sino ba ang makakalimot sa ginawa niyang pagbabago sa Olongapo City noong siya ang maging alkalde nito nang may ilang taon? Kung dati, kilala lang ang Olongapo bilang lugar ng mga taong mahilig magsabi ng ‘Hey Joe,’ naging isang progresibong siyudad ito sa ilalim ni Sen. Gordon. Mas naging batikan ang kasabihang “Bawal ang Tamad sa Olongapo,” sampu ng iba pang mga slogans na ngayon ay pinapamarisan na ng maraming komunidad sa bansa maging ng Metro Manila
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Sino rin ang makakalimot sa ginawang pagbabago ni Sen. Gordon sa Subic Bay Freeport nung umupo siya bilang pinakaunang Chairman ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority? Nung iniwan ng mga Amerikano ang Subic naval base, may ilan ang nagduda na mahihirapang ayusin agad ang lugar dahil nga sa kakulangan ng tamang imprastraktura at ang mga naiwan ay halos pinaglumaan na ng mga Kano. Pero ilang taon lang ang nagdaan sa ilalim nang pamununo ni Sen. Gordon at nakilala na ang SBMA bilang pinaka-progresibong export zone ng bansa. Si Sen. Gordon ang nagbigay ng buhay sa Subic at naglagay dito sa international economic map at ang mga humalili sa kanya ay ipinagpatuloy na lang ang kanyang magandang simulain.
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Kailan ba naging popular ang ‘Wow Philippines?’ Hindi ba nang umupo si Sen. Gordon bilang kalihim ng Department of Tourism. Ang laking pagbabago ang naganap sa mga tourist attractions ng bansa nang maging DOT Secretary si Sen. Gordon. Nagkaroon ng nawawalang sustansiya ang turismo ng bansa nang siya’y maging pinuno ng departamento. Sa ilalim ng programang “Wow Philippines” nabuhay muli ang halos nakalimutan ng tourist spot na kagaya ng Intramuros, na pinamugaran na ng maraming mga squatters.
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Ang laki ng itinaas ng turismo ng bansa dahil sa programa ni Sen. Gordon. Sa termino niya rin bilang DOT Secretary lumabas ang advertisement ng Pilipinas sa international news network na CNN na talaga namang nagdala ng milyong mga dayuhang turista sa bansa na ngayon ay tinatamasa na ng bansa.
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Ang mga accomplishments ni Sen. Gordon ay sadya namang hindi matatawaran ng maski sino mang mga kinikilalang lider ng bansa sa kasalukuyan. Siya lang ang may sapat na karanasan, kakayahan, katalinuhan at kabutihing-loob na puwedeng magbigay ng mas maaliwalas na buhay para sa mga Pilipino lalo’t marami ang nagtutulak sa kanya, kasama na ang inyong abang lingkod, para tumakbo bilang susunod na Pangulo ng bansa sa darating na 2010.
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Hindi na kailangan pang magsalita ni Sen. Gordon dahil nakita na ng buong mamamayang Pilipino ang kanyang husay at talino bilang isang lingkod-publiko. Iyan ang tatak ng isang opisyal na karapat-dapat maging Pangulo ng ating bansa.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR DICK GORDON
27 September 2007
ON SHOUTING INCIDENT AT GOCC HEARING[COA Chairman Guillermo Carague]
GORDON : Biglang-bigla yung incident. Biglang pumutok, biglang nawala.
Ang ganda-ganda ng hearing. It is a hearing about oversight na matutulungan nga ang COA and then I think he (COA Chairman Guillermo Carague) was having a bad day, mali siguro ang gising, bigla na lang nagsisigaw doon, medyo nagmura pa pero hindi ko na pinatulan. Nang umalis na siya ang sabi ko sa kanya "No you can not leave" then I told him "I will put you in contempt". Lumabas siya kaya pinahuli ko siya tapos bumalik siya then he apologized. Ang sabi "I'm sorry" and he said "Hindi tama yung ginawa ko". Sabi pa niya "Dick I really am sorry, I don't know what happened to me and I apologize". Ang sabi ko walang problema d'yan. Nasa record naman yun.
Q. Tungkol sa budget ang problema?
Gordon: Ang problema lang talaga, ang COA ay kulang nga sa tao kaya napag-usapan yun sa ARMM. Halimbawa nga yung namatay na taga-COA doon-- apat na tao na raw ang namamatay. Ang sabi ko ibigay mo sa akin at iimbestigahan natin. Hindi naman namin tinutugis ang COA. Ang akala niya tinutugis, pero hindi naman naming tinutugis. Tinutulungan panga namin. Kaso ang nangyari ay nagsisigaw na siya doon. Nagulat ang lahat and I think he as been overly defensive about COA because ang pinag-uusapan nga doon ay yung oversight sa government corporations. Pinapaliwanag ko lang kung ano ang dapat gawin sa government corporation para mawala yung mga abusado at katulong naming ang COA. Pero ang parang ang take niya doon ay parang naki-critize yung COA and then biglang tumaas ang kanyang boses, tumayo at magwa-walk-out na. He was calling the Senate all kinds of names. What happened to him, I don't know. Even his people were apologetic and everybody in the committee ay nagulat din.
ON ZTE AND ABALOS IMPEACHMENT
Gordon: Yung kontrata ay talagang dapat ibasura sapagkat tainted na yung kontrata dahil may sumigaw na may nag-o-offer ng pera. To my mind this contract should not even be suspended, dapat ito ibasura na itong kontrata sapagkat punong-puno ito ng butas.
This contract is poisoned all together. It is toxic already.
Q. Sir do you have more than enough to recommend the prosecution of….?
Gordon: I think I have enough to show circumstantial evidence that Ablos is out of line. Si Abalos ang dapat na pag-usapan natin. Sa palagay ko mayroon tayong supisyenteng rason (suffiecient reason). Sa akin hindi a-admit si Abalos so saan natin siya hinuli? Hinuli natin siya sa circumstantial evidence. Ang tanong ko sa kanya, "Sunod-sunod na buwan nasa China ka na dapat ang trabaho mo ay sa Comelec. At that time na yan rin sunod-sunod na nini-negotiate yung ZTE. Pangalawa, dalawang kaibigan niya ang nagsasabi, sabi pa niya family friend—si Joey de Venecia. Sinasabing niya na tumanggap ka ng $10M at humihingi pa ng karagdagan. Bakit hindi niya sinumbong sa tatay niya (Speaker de Venecia) Ang sabi niya naaawa daw siya sa doon sa matanda. Pangalawa, inaakusahan siya ni Neri na nag-o-offer siya ng 200. Samakatuwid may pattern.
Halatang-halata na talagang may nangyayaring hindi maganda because bakit pupunta ang Chairman ng Comelec buwan-buwan sa isang bansa na nag-o-offer sa atin at bakit yung ino-offer na yun ay ang hinahabol ni de Venecia na siyang nag-ooffer ng $10M. Mahirap ipaliwanag yun. Sinasabi mo nag-golf ka, paano ka naggo-golf eh Comelec ka at bilang opisyal ng gobyerno hindi ka dapat tumanggap ng libreng palaro o tiket sa larong yan. Sa nangyayari ngayon, wala na itong ZTE na ito. Hindi na pupwede yan at panahon na para habulin na ang mga taong iyan.
Q. Sir, malinaw na Abalos can be impeached?
Gordon: Yes. He can be impeached.
Q. What ground?
Gordon: Yang mga allegation ng bribery. Even to offer a bribe is already punishable under the anti-graft law. And you don't need guilt beyond reasonable doubt in an impeachment case.
Q. So, if the impeachment reaches the Senate you will vote for his impeachment?
Gordon: So right it will appear to be kaya nga kung ito ay darating sa impeachment I would have to be the Judge kapag umabot dito so I will hold judgment. Ang tinanong ninyo sa akin kung may kaso ba? May kaso. And he has to prove his innocence. Para sa akin mabigat yun, kapag nag-offer ka sa isang taong katulad ni Neri, ibig sabihin nag-offer ka rin sa iba. May inoperan pang iba.
Q. Yung taong inoperan may kaso?
Gordon: Hindi naman tumanggap. Pag tumanggap yun, both the bribe-giver and the bribe-taker are liable. Kaya nga sinasabi dito the bribe-offerer has already committed a crime. Crime na yung pag-offer na yun.
Q. Sir, si PGMA hindi ba siya accountable dahil lumalabas na alam niya yung bribery?
Gordon: The Comelec is a constitutional body. Sinumbong sa kanya(GMA) ni Neri na may ganoong pangyayari. Dapat ang ginawa niya is to write a formal letter to the Comelec and say, "Bakit ka nag-o-offer ng ganyan?" Kung ako yun, ganoon ang gagawin ko. All my life, as an executive, kapag may nagsumbong sa mga tauhan ko o sa mga tao ng gobyerno, tatawagin ko yan at ihaharap ko yung nagsusumbong lalo na kung miyembro ng political family ko yan.
Q. Sir, kung bigla bang magresign si Abalos pwede pa rin siyang habulin?
Gordon: Yes. You are liable for all your acts as a public official.
Q. Sir, sa tingin ninyo si Abalos ay walang balak mag-resign?
Gordon: Hindi magre-resign yan.
Q. Kapalmuks talaga?
Gordon: Hindi dahil doon. Dahil abugado siya akala niya makakalusot siya eh. Sa impeachment malakas na yan. Maybe sa criminal kulang pa pero sa impeachment, malakas na malakas na yan.
Alam nyo hindi masa-satisfy ang publiko kung walang babagsak dito. Hindi na pwedeng itago ito. The genie is out of the bottle. Masyadong maraming beses binanggit si Abalos. Nagbiyahe buwan-buwan. Paano itatago sa House yan. Bakit ka sinasabihan ni Neri at de Venecia na nagbibigay ka. At hindi naman niya aaminin na ginawa niya yan.
Q. Kailangang managot pa rin?
Gordon: Yes. Kailangang managot. Ako kahit si Erap, pardon cannot be issued against him. Hindi pa tapos ang proseso. Tapusin muna natin.
ON NERI EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE
Q. Sir yung kay Neri should he be cited by the Senate for contempt for citing executive privilege?
Gordon: Yung executive privilege na sinasabi ni Neri only holds in so far as question hour. This was not the question hour. Ngayon kung executive privilege ang –isa-cite niya, it is not valid. Walang national security considerations. Walang problema doon sa government relations with another country. Wala tayong mahalagang bagay na hindi ilalabas muna sapagkat may negotiations. So he cannot invoke executive privilege. That is why the Chair, Cayetano should not have allowed him to invoke executive privilege.
Q. So nagkamali siya?
Gordon: Yes. Mali siya doon.
Q. So you will compel him to answer (Neri)?
Gordon: He has to answer. In fairness to Sec. Neri, remember by saying this, he is endangering his family. Malaking problema yan. Dapat nga mahalin natin si Neri. There are two events that have happened here. Una, nakulong ang isang presidente. Pangalawa may cabinet member na nagsabing bina-bribe siya. Iyan ang sinabi ko sa aking talumpati na bubugso ang maraming complaint laban sa mga high officials of the government dahil sa conviction ni Erap.
Q. May rekomendasyon si Sen Mirrian na i-refer na lang sa Ombudsman itong NBN?
Gordon: Alam mo kung talagang tutuusin, tungkulin ng Ombudsman pero ang Ombudsman ay medyo mahihirapan. Kung iri-refer mo ito sa Ombudsman ayun maraming mananagot dyan. Si Joe De Venecia, si Abalos. Kapag ni-refer mo naman ito sa impeachment, you don't need guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Boto lang ng Congressman ang kailangan diyan at madali na yan.
Q. Papasa kaya yun sa House?
Gordon: Bakit naman hindi. Again these are times where we test character. Itong mga panahon na ito, this will be a test of character for the members of the Lower House and the Senate. Masama ba sa character ko kung tatahimik ako kahit mali na ang ginagawa ng isang testigo? I think mali 'yun. Hindi naman ako nagtatanong para maging popular sa tao. Kailangan magtanong ng tama. Out of character ba sakin na nag-waive yung isa at ako ay hindi nag-waive, hindi mo ako pagsasalitain?
Q. Sir, yung nangyari sa inyo ni Sen. Cayetano..?
Gordon: Maganda yung usapan namin, tinatanong ko siya kase naliligaw tayo. Siyempre pagnaka-TV maraming nagpi-play on TV. Binabalik ko lang to what the hearing is all about. Sinabi ko at inulit ko yan. I know that tinatanong ko lang siya, parang advise sa kanyang indirectly na don't lose sight of the meeting. Gusto nating malaman ng tao kung appropriate itong contract na ito, if this contract follows the law, if there were violations of the contract or may mga kalokohang ginawa yung mga nagnenegotiate ng kontrata.
This contract ay kinuha lang dahil pinapautang tayo ng mababang interest pero ang kanilang kompanya ang kanilang payayamanin. Hindi kailangan ng gobyerno at tao ang kontratang ito. Ang dapat unahin natin ay, ipagawa natin ang PGH, bawat region dapat may PGH. Dapat umutang tayo para magkaroon ng computer ang bawat eskuwela at ma-computerize yung election. Dapat ayusin ang education natin. Yun ang dapat pwede natin utangin.
Kung inoperan (offer) si Joey de Venecia, Sec. Neri therefore inoperan din yung iba. Kung sino ang mga iyon hindi ko alam and that is why kailangang ibasura na itong kontratang ito.
Q. Nothing personal dito kasi second time na kayong nagbanggaan ni Cayetano?
Gordon: Ang problema kasi, yung Rules ng Senate malinaw. Katulad kahapon tuloy-tuloy ang hearing. Ang gagawin nila noong isang araw ay they are in effect going to violate the rules. The rules says at 3 o'clock we call all committees stop at ang mauuna ay yung legislative meeting lang, may session na. Ang nangyari ititigil yung hearing pagkatapos itutuloy ang session tapos isu-suspend uli yung session. Pinapakita at pinapaliwanag ko yung rules pero ayaw niyang makinig.
Kahapon, nang magtatanong na ako sasabihin ni Sen Pimentel "Ako muna," ang sabi ko, "Sige". I always give way. Papasok si Sen Pangilinan, sige I will give way. Pero kung panahon ko naman at magtatanong ako, wag mo akong iba-bind doon sa waiver ni Sen. Enrile. Kung nag-waive sila, that is their privilege. I have not waived. I was not going to waive, the question that I wanted to ask I think was very, very important.
The Chairman had no right to assume that I had waived my right. Kaya kami nagkaroon ng banggaan kagabi. Wag ninyong masamain iyon sapagkat yun ay part of the rules. Kailangan kapag nag-imbestiga tayo, yung rules natin ay sinusunod natin. Sapagkat kung wala nang rules ay talagang magulo. Kaya pinagsabihan ko. Seguro hindi ka nga nag-chair dati, hindi mo binabasa yung rules, I'm sorry I had to say that because medyo sinabi niya na "I was quibbling". I'm not quibbling. We live here by the rules.
END
27 September 2007
ON SHOUTING INCIDENT AT GOCC HEARING[COA Chairman Guillermo Carague]
GORDON : Biglang-bigla yung incident. Biglang pumutok, biglang nawala.
Ang ganda-ganda ng hearing. It is a hearing about oversight na matutulungan nga ang COA and then I think he (COA Chairman Guillermo Carague) was having a bad day, mali siguro ang gising, bigla na lang nagsisigaw doon, medyo nagmura pa pero hindi ko na pinatulan. Nang umalis na siya ang sabi ko sa kanya "No you can not leave" then I told him "I will put you in contempt". Lumabas siya kaya pinahuli ko siya tapos bumalik siya then he apologized. Ang sabi "I'm sorry" and he said "Hindi tama yung ginawa ko". Sabi pa niya "Dick I really am sorry, I don't know what happened to me and I apologize". Ang sabi ko walang problema d'yan. Nasa record naman yun.
Q. Tungkol sa budget ang problema?
Gordon: Ang problema lang talaga, ang COA ay kulang nga sa tao kaya napag-usapan yun sa ARMM. Halimbawa nga yung namatay na taga-COA doon-- apat na tao na raw ang namamatay. Ang sabi ko ibigay mo sa akin at iimbestigahan natin. Hindi naman namin tinutugis ang COA. Ang akala niya tinutugis, pero hindi naman naming tinutugis. Tinutulungan panga namin. Kaso ang nangyari ay nagsisigaw na siya doon. Nagulat ang lahat and I think he as been overly defensive about COA because ang pinag-uusapan nga doon ay yung oversight sa government corporations. Pinapaliwanag ko lang kung ano ang dapat gawin sa government corporation para mawala yung mga abusado at katulong naming ang COA. Pero ang parang ang take niya doon ay parang naki-critize yung COA and then biglang tumaas ang kanyang boses, tumayo at magwa-walk-out na. He was calling the Senate all kinds of names. What happened to him, I don't know. Even his people were apologetic and everybody in the committee ay nagulat din.
ON ZTE AND ABALOS IMPEACHMENT
Gordon: Yung kontrata ay talagang dapat ibasura sapagkat tainted na yung kontrata dahil may sumigaw na may nag-o-offer ng pera. To my mind this contract should not even be suspended, dapat ito ibasura na itong kontrata sapagkat punong-puno ito ng butas.
This contract is poisoned all together. It is toxic already.
Q. Sir do you have more than enough to recommend the prosecution of….?
Gordon: I think I have enough to show circumstantial evidence that Ablos is out of line. Si Abalos ang dapat na pag-usapan natin. Sa palagay ko mayroon tayong supisyenteng rason (suffiecient reason). Sa akin hindi a-admit si Abalos so saan natin siya hinuli? Hinuli natin siya sa circumstantial evidence. Ang tanong ko sa kanya, "Sunod-sunod na buwan nasa China ka na dapat ang trabaho mo ay sa Comelec. At that time na yan rin sunod-sunod na nini-negotiate yung ZTE. Pangalawa, dalawang kaibigan niya ang nagsasabi, sabi pa niya family friend—si Joey de Venecia. Sinasabing niya na tumanggap ka ng $10M at humihingi pa ng karagdagan. Bakit hindi niya sinumbong sa tatay niya (Speaker de Venecia) Ang sabi niya naaawa daw siya sa doon sa matanda. Pangalawa, inaakusahan siya ni Neri na nag-o-offer siya ng 200. Samakatuwid may pattern.
Halatang-halata na talagang may nangyayaring hindi maganda because bakit pupunta ang Chairman ng Comelec buwan-buwan sa isang bansa na nag-o-offer sa atin at bakit yung ino-offer na yun ay ang hinahabol ni de Venecia na siyang nag-ooffer ng $10M. Mahirap ipaliwanag yun. Sinasabi mo nag-golf ka, paano ka naggo-golf eh Comelec ka at bilang opisyal ng gobyerno hindi ka dapat tumanggap ng libreng palaro o tiket sa larong yan. Sa nangyayari ngayon, wala na itong ZTE na ito. Hindi na pupwede yan at panahon na para habulin na ang mga taong iyan.
Q. Sir, malinaw na Abalos can be impeached?
Gordon: Yes. He can be impeached.
Q. What ground?
Gordon: Yang mga allegation ng bribery. Even to offer a bribe is already punishable under the anti-graft law. And you don't need guilt beyond reasonable doubt in an impeachment case.
Q. So, if the impeachment reaches the Senate you will vote for his impeachment?
Gordon: So right it will appear to be kaya nga kung ito ay darating sa impeachment I would have to be the Judge kapag umabot dito so I will hold judgment. Ang tinanong ninyo sa akin kung may kaso ba? May kaso. And he has to prove his innocence. Para sa akin mabigat yun, kapag nag-offer ka sa isang taong katulad ni Neri, ibig sabihin nag-offer ka rin sa iba. May inoperan pang iba.
Q. Yung taong inoperan may kaso?
Gordon: Hindi naman tumanggap. Pag tumanggap yun, both the bribe-giver and the bribe-taker are liable. Kaya nga sinasabi dito the bribe-offerer has already committed a crime. Crime na yung pag-offer na yun.
Q. Sir, si PGMA hindi ba siya accountable dahil lumalabas na alam niya yung bribery?
Gordon: The Comelec is a constitutional body. Sinumbong sa kanya(GMA) ni Neri na may ganoong pangyayari. Dapat ang ginawa niya is to write a formal letter to the Comelec and say, "Bakit ka nag-o-offer ng ganyan?" Kung ako yun, ganoon ang gagawin ko. All my life, as an executive, kapag may nagsumbong sa mga tauhan ko o sa mga tao ng gobyerno, tatawagin ko yan at ihaharap ko yung nagsusumbong lalo na kung miyembro ng political family ko yan.
Q. Sir, kung bigla bang magresign si Abalos pwede pa rin siyang habulin?
Gordon: Yes. You are liable for all your acts as a public official.
Q. Sir, sa tingin ninyo si Abalos ay walang balak mag-resign?
Gordon: Hindi magre-resign yan.
Q. Kapalmuks talaga?
Gordon: Hindi dahil doon. Dahil abugado siya akala niya makakalusot siya eh. Sa impeachment malakas na yan. Maybe sa criminal kulang pa pero sa impeachment, malakas na malakas na yan.
Alam nyo hindi masa-satisfy ang publiko kung walang babagsak dito. Hindi na pwedeng itago ito. The genie is out of the bottle. Masyadong maraming beses binanggit si Abalos. Nagbiyahe buwan-buwan. Paano itatago sa House yan. Bakit ka sinasabihan ni Neri at de Venecia na nagbibigay ka. At hindi naman niya aaminin na ginawa niya yan.
Q. Kailangang managot pa rin?
Gordon: Yes. Kailangang managot. Ako kahit si Erap, pardon cannot be issued against him. Hindi pa tapos ang proseso. Tapusin muna natin.
ON NERI EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE
Q. Sir yung kay Neri should he be cited by the Senate for contempt for citing executive privilege?
Gordon: Yung executive privilege na sinasabi ni Neri only holds in so far as question hour. This was not the question hour. Ngayon kung executive privilege ang –isa-cite niya, it is not valid. Walang national security considerations. Walang problema doon sa government relations with another country. Wala tayong mahalagang bagay na hindi ilalabas muna sapagkat may negotiations. So he cannot invoke executive privilege. That is why the Chair, Cayetano should not have allowed him to invoke executive privilege.
Q. So nagkamali siya?
Gordon: Yes. Mali siya doon.
Q. So you will compel him to answer (Neri)?
Gordon: He has to answer. In fairness to Sec. Neri, remember by saying this, he is endangering his family. Malaking problema yan. Dapat nga mahalin natin si Neri. There are two events that have happened here. Una, nakulong ang isang presidente. Pangalawa may cabinet member na nagsabing bina-bribe siya. Iyan ang sinabi ko sa aking talumpati na bubugso ang maraming complaint laban sa mga high officials of the government dahil sa conviction ni Erap.
Q. May rekomendasyon si Sen Mirrian na i-refer na lang sa Ombudsman itong NBN?
Gordon: Alam mo kung talagang tutuusin, tungkulin ng Ombudsman pero ang Ombudsman ay medyo mahihirapan. Kung iri-refer mo ito sa Ombudsman ayun maraming mananagot dyan. Si Joe De Venecia, si Abalos. Kapag ni-refer mo naman ito sa impeachment, you don't need guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Boto lang ng Congressman ang kailangan diyan at madali na yan.
Q. Papasa kaya yun sa House?
Gordon: Bakit naman hindi. Again these are times where we test character. Itong mga panahon na ito, this will be a test of character for the members of the Lower House and the Senate. Masama ba sa character ko kung tatahimik ako kahit mali na ang ginagawa ng isang testigo? I think mali 'yun. Hindi naman ako nagtatanong para maging popular sa tao. Kailangan magtanong ng tama. Out of character ba sakin na nag-waive yung isa at ako ay hindi nag-waive, hindi mo ako pagsasalitain?
Q. Sir, yung nangyari sa inyo ni Sen. Cayetano..?
Gordon: Maganda yung usapan namin, tinatanong ko siya kase naliligaw tayo. Siyempre pagnaka-TV maraming nagpi-play on TV. Binabalik ko lang to what the hearing is all about. Sinabi ko at inulit ko yan. I know that tinatanong ko lang siya, parang advise sa kanyang indirectly na don't lose sight of the meeting. Gusto nating malaman ng tao kung appropriate itong contract na ito, if this contract follows the law, if there were violations of the contract or may mga kalokohang ginawa yung mga nagnenegotiate ng kontrata.
This contract ay kinuha lang dahil pinapautang tayo ng mababang interest pero ang kanilang kompanya ang kanilang payayamanin. Hindi kailangan ng gobyerno at tao ang kontratang ito. Ang dapat unahin natin ay, ipagawa natin ang PGH, bawat region dapat may PGH. Dapat umutang tayo para magkaroon ng computer ang bawat eskuwela at ma-computerize yung election. Dapat ayusin ang education natin. Yun ang dapat pwede natin utangin.
Kung inoperan (offer) si Joey de Venecia, Sec. Neri therefore inoperan din yung iba. Kung sino ang mga iyon hindi ko alam and that is why kailangang ibasura na itong kontratang ito.
Q. Nothing personal dito kasi second time na kayong nagbanggaan ni Cayetano?
Gordon: Ang problema kasi, yung Rules ng Senate malinaw. Katulad kahapon tuloy-tuloy ang hearing. Ang gagawin nila noong isang araw ay they are in effect going to violate the rules. The rules says at 3 o'clock we call all committees stop at ang mauuna ay yung legislative meeting lang, may session na. Ang nangyari ititigil yung hearing pagkatapos itutuloy ang session tapos isu-suspend uli yung session. Pinapakita at pinapaliwanag ko yung rules pero ayaw niyang makinig.
Kahapon, nang magtatanong na ako sasabihin ni Sen Pimentel "Ako muna," ang sabi ko, "Sige". I always give way. Papasok si Sen Pangilinan, sige I will give way. Pero kung panahon ko naman at magtatanong ako, wag mo akong iba-bind doon sa waiver ni Sen. Enrile. Kung nag-waive sila, that is their privilege. I have not waived. I was not going to waive, the question that I wanted to ask I think was very, very important.
The Chairman had no right to assume that I had waived my right. Kaya kami nagkaroon ng banggaan kagabi. Wag ninyong masamain iyon sapagkat yun ay part of the rules. Kailangan kapag nag-imbestiga tayo, yung rules natin ay sinusunod natin. Sapagkat kung wala nang rules ay talagang magulo. Kaya pinagsabihan ko. Seguro hindi ka nga nag-chair dati, hindi mo binabasa yung rules, I'm sorry I had to say that because medyo sinabi niya na "I was quibbling". I'm not quibbling. We live here by the rules.
END
Excerpt from
Don’t demonize China naman
DEMAND AND SUPPLY
By BOO CHANCO
I was going through the transcript of the ZTE hearings and I am glad that Sen. Dick Gordon voiced the view I expressed here that the NBN should not be a high priority in the use of government funds because there are private sector alternatives. Perhaps, China can see this too and agree to divert the money it was willing to lend us for NBN to such projects such as modernizing our public hospitals.
Here are Sen. Gordon’s views expressed during the hearing.
“With that kind of money, $329 million, Php 15 billion, is that really a priority or is it really donor driven? Nagpahiram ang China… may pera kami rito, ha? Kahit na hindi n’yo kailangan umutang na kayo para makuha natin … Saying, pinapahiram tayo eh. Mababa ang interest. Pero hindi naman kailangan ng gobyerno right away.
“Hindi n’yo ba puwedeng sabihin sa China, “O pautangin n’yo na lang kami dadalhin namin sa eskwela. Lalagyan namin ng computers yung eskwela para masanay lahat yung tao para pagdating ng araw pag dumating ang broadband madali nang magawa iyon.
“O di naman kaya pautangin n’yo kami paayos natin yung PGH. Paayos natin yung Orthopedic Hospital. Lalagyan natin ng mga regional hospitals. Di ba dapat yun ang ginagawa natin? Or is it really a priority na broadband samantalang may Smart, may Globe… Bakit hindi natin gamitin yun muna para maunahan yung pera ng gobyerno para ma-prioritize ang talagang pangangailngan ng tao? Hindi ba natin pinaguusapan iyon?”
Don’t demonize China naman
DEMAND AND SUPPLY
By BOO CHANCO
I was going through the transcript of the ZTE hearings and I am glad that Sen. Dick Gordon voiced the view I expressed here that the NBN should not be a high priority in the use of government funds because there are private sector alternatives. Perhaps, China can see this too and agree to divert the money it was willing to lend us for NBN to such projects such as modernizing our public hospitals.
Here are Sen. Gordon’s views expressed during the hearing.
“With that kind of money, $329 million, Php 15 billion, is that really a priority or is it really donor driven? Nagpahiram ang China… may pera kami rito, ha? Kahit na hindi n’yo kailangan umutang na kayo para makuha natin … Saying, pinapahiram tayo eh. Mababa ang interest. Pero hindi naman kailangan ng gobyerno right away.
“Hindi n’yo ba puwedeng sabihin sa China, “O pautangin n’yo na lang kami dadalhin namin sa eskwela. Lalagyan namin ng computers yung eskwela para masanay lahat yung tao para pagdating ng araw pag dumating ang broadband madali nang magawa iyon.
“O di naman kaya pautangin n’yo kami paayos natin yung PGH. Paayos natin yung Orthopedic Hospital. Lalagyan natin ng mga regional hospitals. Di ba dapat yun ang ginagawa natin? Or is it really a priority na broadband samantalang may Smart, may Globe… Bakit hindi natin gamitin yun muna para maunahan yung pera ng gobyerno para ma-prioritize ang talagang pangangailngan ng tao? Hindi ba natin pinaguusapan iyon?”
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Ledesma: Gordon and his fruits for life
Ledesma: Gordon and his fruits for life
By Jun Ledesma
Sunbursts
WHILE his colleagues are making "pogi" points and posing on TV over the ZTE scam and "Hello Garci" scandal, Dick Gordon was personally busy arranging how to bring the bumper crops of fruits from Sulu and Cotabato.
Despite these hectic crusade, Gordon is always present in the Senate as if he was not somewhere in the nooks of Jolo and in the hinterlands of North Cotabato. I will not even be surprised if he is using the same denim pants he was wearing in his trips to Jolo and Kidapawan underneath his suit.
Gordon makes no fuss about his being in these remote areas, touching base with provincial, municipal, and barangay officials and also with farmers and fishermen.
Last month, prior to his trip to Jolo, I had the opportunity to talk to the senator along with Sun Star publisher, Tony Ajero. Over mangosteens and rambutans served to us by artist Kublai and his father Ray Millan, we talked about the birds and the bees.
Nothing about politics actually. He told us about his plan of going to Jolo in relations to his being chairman of PNRC. Then, he made mention about his idea of using the Philippine Navy ships to ferry whatever the farmers and fishermen in Sulu can produce. He recalled that in Jolo, the markets were teeming with mangosteen and were selling so cheap. He said that if the fruits were to be sold in Metro Manila the price is 80 times more than the prices in Jolo market.
I told my own personal story to the senator. I said that there was a time when I was into rose production and buying and selling of roses. The rose farmers in Calinan had no market then except Bankerohan and Agdao. I bought their flowers three times the price of their local buyers and then I sell these in Manila.
Even with the cost of air freight, I still make handsome profit. "Exactly," says Gordon. "Mangosteen, which sells in Jolo market at 5 to 10 pesos per kilo will easily sell at the price range of P80 to P100," he said. "That is what we are going to do in Jolo and here in Davao," he said.
The next time I heard of Gordon less than a week after is that he was in Jolo with a PAF C-130. Two days after that event, I received a surprise call from Senator Gordon. That was about 6:30 in the morning. I thought somebody was pulling my leg pretending that he was Senator Dick. But his tempo and the jubilant voice in the other end was unmistakably Senator Gordon.
Says he, "Jun, report ko lang sa iyo. Yong first plane load natin na fruits from Jolo were gobbled up by our buyers as soon as we unloaded them. In less than two hours, the whole planeload was sold out." Then he added, "I will be arriving in Davao this morning to inaugurate the PNRC building in Davao City. After which I will motor to Kidapawan to arrange for the shipment of their fruits to Manila. I hope to see you."
I saw him that morning and he profusely thanked us for whatever. After the inauguration of PNRC in Davao which he later announced will be the training center of Red Cross volunteers in the Philippines, he proceeded to give awards to business and community leaders, Mayor Rody Duterte and the City of Davao for their support in the construction of the PNRC building here.
Then he excused himself, disappeared obviously to change outfit and scooted to Kidapawan.
In less than a week Senator Gordon is back with C-130 to haul the fruits from Pinol's country. If you think he cannot make time for his duty in the senate, you can wonder. Because he never missed a session.
Yet, Senator Gordon does not make pitches about Estrada's conviction, pardon or amnesty. Maybe his political constituency in Luzon and Visayas are surprised. I am not for I know that what preoccupies the mind of Gordon even as he sits there in important committees, is how to bring the bumper crops in areas of conflict in Mindanao to the markets in Metro Manila.
"Fruits of Hope." "Fruits for Peace." Next time around Gordon will transform the pristine islands of Sulu and Tawi-tawi into prime tourism destinations. Funny? Impossible? Well, I believe Dick "flash" Gordon can.
By Jun Ledesma
Sunbursts
WHILE his colleagues are making "pogi" points and posing on TV over the ZTE scam and "Hello Garci" scandal, Dick Gordon was personally busy arranging how to bring the bumper crops of fruits from Sulu and Cotabato.
Despite these hectic crusade, Gordon is always present in the Senate as if he was not somewhere in the nooks of Jolo and in the hinterlands of North Cotabato. I will not even be surprised if he is using the same denim pants he was wearing in his trips to Jolo and Kidapawan underneath his suit.
Gordon makes no fuss about his being in these remote areas, touching base with provincial, municipal, and barangay officials and also with farmers and fishermen.
Last month, prior to his trip to Jolo, I had the opportunity to talk to the senator along with Sun Star publisher, Tony Ajero. Over mangosteens and rambutans served to us by artist Kublai and his father Ray Millan, we talked about the birds and the bees.
Nothing about politics actually. He told us about his plan of going to Jolo in relations to his being chairman of PNRC. Then, he made mention about his idea of using the Philippine Navy ships to ferry whatever the farmers and fishermen in Sulu can produce. He recalled that in Jolo, the markets were teeming with mangosteen and were selling so cheap. He said that if the fruits were to be sold in Metro Manila the price is 80 times more than the prices in Jolo market.
I told my own personal story to the senator. I said that there was a time when I was into rose production and buying and selling of roses. The rose farmers in Calinan had no market then except Bankerohan and Agdao. I bought their flowers three times the price of their local buyers and then I sell these in Manila.
Even with the cost of air freight, I still make handsome profit. "Exactly," says Gordon. "Mangosteen, which sells in Jolo market at 5 to 10 pesos per kilo will easily sell at the price range of P80 to P100," he said. "That is what we are going to do in Jolo and here in Davao," he said.
The next time I heard of Gordon less than a week after is that he was in Jolo with a PAF C-130. Two days after that event, I received a surprise call from Senator Gordon. That was about 6:30 in the morning. I thought somebody was pulling my leg pretending that he was Senator Dick. But his tempo and the jubilant voice in the other end was unmistakably Senator Gordon.
Says he, "Jun, report ko lang sa iyo. Yong first plane load natin na fruits from Jolo were gobbled up by our buyers as soon as we unloaded them. In less than two hours, the whole planeload was sold out." Then he added, "I will be arriving in Davao this morning to inaugurate the PNRC building in Davao City. After which I will motor to Kidapawan to arrange for the shipment of their fruits to Manila. I hope to see you."
I saw him that morning and he profusely thanked us for whatever. After the inauguration of PNRC in Davao which he later announced will be the training center of Red Cross volunteers in the Philippines, he proceeded to give awards to business and community leaders, Mayor Rody Duterte and the City of Davao for their support in the construction of the PNRC building here.
Then he excused himself, disappeared obviously to change outfit and scooted to Kidapawan.
In less than a week Senator Gordon is back with C-130 to haul the fruits from Pinol's country. If you think he cannot make time for his duty in the senate, you can wonder. Because he never missed a session.
Yet, Senator Gordon does not make pitches about Estrada's conviction, pardon or amnesty. Maybe his political constituency in Luzon and Visayas are surprised. I am not for I know that what preoccupies the mind of Gordon even as he sits there in important committees, is how to bring the bumper crops in areas of conflict in Mindanao to the markets in Metro Manila.
"Fruits of Hope." "Fruits for Peace." Next time around Gordon will transform the pristine islands of Sulu and Tawi-tawi into prime tourism destinations. Funny? Impossible? Well, I believe Dick "flash" Gordon can.
North Cotabato hails “Fruits of Hope” program
North Cotabato hails “Fruits of Hope” program
Philippine National Red Cross Chairman (PNRC) and CEO, Senator Richard J. Gordon, arrived at the Villamor Airbase on Tuesday from Davao City on board a C-130 laden with 13.5 tons of assorted fresh fruits from North Cotabato and a cargo-hold of fresh hope for lasting peace in Mindanao.
This was the second humanitary mission conducted under the ‘Fruits of Hope’ program led by Gordon as PNRC Chairman and is jointly supported by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Asia America Initiative, and the Philippine Air Force together with Rustan’s, SM, and Nestle Nescafe Corporation. The ‘Fruits of Hope’ program is a joint peace building initiative which aims to link producers of various agricultural crops from Sulu, Basilan, North Cotabato, and other areas in Mindanao to markets in Metro Manila and help them get a better price for their goods, thereby assuring them of better profits.
Gordon, along with North Cotabato Governor Susing Sacdalan, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pinol and representatives of the North Cotabato Fruit Growers Association were met at Villamor Airbase by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, and other government officials.
The President congratulated Gordon and the leaders of North Cotabato for their efforts in alleviating the plight of fruit farmers in North Cotabato.
At a press conference in Davao City prior to their departure for Manila, North Cotabato Governor Sacdalan and Vice Governor Pinol lauded the efforts of Senator Gordon for supporting North Cotabato’s bid for peace and development. They likewise voiced their support for the ‘Fruits of Hope’ program, saying that they looked forward to making giant strides together with Senator Gordon as well as the program’s partners towards achieving just and lasting peace in Mindanao.
“The essence of the ‘Fruits of Hope’ program is not only that it brings livelihood to thousands farmers and farm workers struck down by the blights of conflict, but it is opening peoples’ minds to the fact that Sulu, Basilan, North Cotabato and other areas in Mindanao are vast peaceful areas with intermittent outbreaks of conflict in remote and isolated areas. By opening minds, as well as hearts, we will do more towards persuading our countrymen and even the global community to invest in development for these areas – in short, to invest in peace,” said Gordon.
The Fruits of Peace program, since its first mission two weeks ago in Sulu, has gained more support from corporations and Metro Manila based cooperatives.
The future partners of the ‘Fruits of Hope’ program include NAMVESCO (National Market Vendors Association of the Philippines), Negros Navigation, Sulpicio Lines, Vintel Logistics, Bagumbayan Movement Committee on Livelihood and Productivity.
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