Tumindi pa ang bangayan nina Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte atPhilippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman, Senator Richard Gordon.

Ito ay matapos bigyan ng ultimatum ni Duterte na ipa-audit na lamang ang PRC at kung hindi lalala pa ang kanilang iringan.

Sa kanyang "Talk to the People"public address na isinapubliko nitong Sabado, binantaan ng Pangulo si Gordon at sinabing gagawa ito ng hakbang katuladpag-atas sa gobyerno na "iitsa-puwera" na ang PRC, gayundin ang pag-iimbestiga sa umano'y "personal dirt" o dungis ng senador.

Matatandaangtumanggi si Gordon na ipahimay sa Commission on Audit (COA) ang mga donasyon ng pamahalaan sa PRC.

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First Family bumati sa buong bansa; 'Ang Pasko ay pamilya'

First Family bumati sa buong bansa; 'Ang Pasko ay pamilya'

Idinahilan din ng Pangulo na nabigo umano si Gordon na isumite sa Office of the President ang annual financial report ng PRC

“Either you submit to an auditing procedure or we quarrel. 'Pag mag-quarrel, do your worst because I will do mine. I’m sure I will find plenty of [wrong]…basta plenty when we start with you, Senator Gordon,” babala ni Duterte.

Kinontra rin ng Pangulo si Gordon matapos na igiit na hindi maaaring i-audit ang PRC dahil isa itong non-government organization.

“It is not totally independent because it has been receiving financial aid from the Republic of the Philippines. Kumukuha ka pa dyan sa PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office) ng pera.Now, any money belonging to the Republic of the Philippines given to an agency, whatever be the nature, if you’re operating here, and you’re receiving money and spendit, you are accountable to the government and therefore an audit is in order,” pagdidiin ni Duterte.

“So in the coming days I will write you a letter to open up your records because I will also request [COA Chairman Michael] Aguinaldo, and I’m sure he knows his business, that there is money in Red Cross belonging to the government that he has to look into.Kung ayaw mo, mapipilitan akong totally disassociate with you. I will not, I will stop the national government and all from having transactions with you in any manner. Wala akong pakialam, hindi ako magbigay ng pera sa ‘yo.As far as I’m concerned, Red Cross does not exist,” pahayag nito.

Nagtataka rin ang Pangulo kung bakit hindi isinusumite ng PRC ang kanilang annual financial report na labag saRepublic Act (RA) 10072 o sa Philippine Red Cross Act.

“I’m looking for the annual reports…the Red Cross must submit to the President an annual report. Since then, wala akong natanggap. Anim na taon na ako. Mr. Senator Gordon, nasaan na ang report?” pagtatanong pa nito.

Ellson Quismorio