Ni: Leonel M. Abasola at Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola
Asar-talo si Senator Richard Gordon nang tawagin ni Senator Antonio Trillanes IV na “komite de absuwelto” ang Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na pinamumunuan ng una, sa pagpapatuloy ng pagdinig sa P6.4-bilyon halaga ng shabu na naipuslit mula sa Bureau of Customs (BoC).
Nagkainitan ang dalawa makaraang magmosyon si Trillanes para padaluhin sa susunod na pagdinig sina Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte at Atty. Manases Carpio, panganak na anak at manugang ni Pangulong Duterte, na kapwa nadadawit sa umano’y kurapsiyon sa BoC.
Classic movie ‘Ipaglaban Mo!’, ipinalabas ng CCP bilang kampanya vs VAWC
“Well, nakita ‘nyo naman, nag-motion ako para ipa-invite itong si Mans Carpio and Paolo Duterte ay ‘eto na. Nakita ‘nyo na, nag-abogado na siya (Gordon). ‘Di ganyan ang demeanor ng chairman ng isang Blue Ribbon committee,” sabi ni Trillanes. “That’s very obvious. Maliwanag ‘yung mga iprinisinta kong information that warrants maimbitahan sila.
Wala namang ano ‘yun, eh. They can easily clear their names kung ‘di sila involved.”
Sa mga ipinakitang text messages ng fixer na si Mark Taguba ay nabanggit ang mga pangalan nina Paolo at Carpio at ng sinasabing Davao Group. Una nang sinabi sa pagdinig nitong Miyerkules ng isang mataas na opisyal ng BoC na nakita niyang dumalaw si Carpio—asawa ni Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio—sa tanggapan ni noon ay BoC Commisioner Nicanor Faeldon.
NAGKAPIKUNAN
“We have enough information that would warrant the invitation for both Mans and Paolo Duterte to this committee hearing. I heard the Majority Floor leader say, hearsay – this is not a court. This is an investigation. We’re just establishing the truth, ferret out the truth. ‘Wag muna tayong mag-abogado sa kanila,” sabi ni Trillanes. “Itong mga resource persons na ito, invited quietly... Bakit suddenly masyadong jittery or bina-badger na ‘yung nagsasabi?”
Tinanong ni Gordon si Trillanes kung si Senator Vicente Sotto III ang tinutukoy nito, na sinagot naman ni Trillanes:
“Well, if you feel alluded to that’s not my problem.”
Sinuspinde ni Gordon ang sesyon, pero iginiit naman ni Trillanes na nagiging “committee de absuwelto” na ang Blue Ribbon.
“Regarding your irrational ruling and behavior as chairman of this Blue Ribbon committee. You’ve been doing a one-man show, a monologue for several hours and you think that’s normal?” ani Trillanes.
Dito na binalaan ni Gordon si Trillanes na iko-contempt, pero nanindigan si Trillanes na may pagtutol siya at sinabing pinagtatakpan ng dalawang senador ang pamilya Duterte na nasasabit sa anomalya.
ETHICS COMPLAINT
Kaugnay nito, sinabi ni Gordon na maghahain siya ng ethics complaint laban kay Trillanes.
“It’s about time…A senator is supposed to act in the most cordial, in the most gentlemanly manner…and the rules of the Senate are very clear,” sinabi ni Gordon sa mga mamamahayag pagkatapos niyang suspendihin ang Senate inquiry.
“(I am) offended with his ‘lawyering’ statement against Sen. Sotto. That’s unfair. And that is his not lightly taken,” sabi ni Gordon. “I was also offended for the Senate. I work for the Senate, and I want to be proud of it.
(His) calling it a ‘committee de absuelto’ has no basis. That’s based on whim, caprice, and ver, very arbitrary. You cannot be loose with the Senate.”
