DINGLE, Iloilo — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has reiterated his “directive” to his Cabinet officials not to let lawmakers rob them of their dignity when invited for a legislative hearing.
The Chief Executive’s call for legislators to treat his men with respect came when he said that more members of the Cabinet will be called for investigation after the Senate inquiry on the Frigate Acquisition Project where his Special Assistant Christopher “Bong” Go was invited.
In his speech during Thursday’s “Pagpupugay sa mga Bayani” and talk to the troops held at the Camp General Adriano Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo, Duterte repeated his advice to his Cabinet members to “stand up and leave” if they not are not treated with respect.
If they will be cited for contempt, he said he will come and get them.
“Kaya ang utos ko sa inyo, sir, as your — as a Cabinet member, ‘pag sinisigaw-sigawan na kayo, sabihin ninyo (My instruction to you as a Cabinet member is, when they start yelling at you, tell them:) I am here because I was summoned by the Committee. I am here because I have to tell the truth. And I’m going to do that. Please do not insult me. ‘Yan pa lang mag-umpisa ka na (Tell them at the start), I will answer you truthfully,” he said.
He recalled the pathetic situation of civilians and even Chinese nationals who were called for investigation and yet were yelled at, back when he was still a congressman.
“It’s not because that you are here in this lectern as somebody na… you have the right to demean, degrade, rob him of his dignity,” he said.
“Ngayon kung sige kayo sigaw-sigawan, tumindig kayo. Sabihin mo (If they keep shouting at you, you stand up. Tell them), ‘I will not allow myself to be the subject of — hindi ako wallpaper na basta target-targetin mo na lang diyan (I am not a wallpaper that you can easily target)’,” he added.
During the Senate hearing, Go denied allegations he tried to intervene in the acquisition of the combat management system – the “brain” of a combat vessel — for the two missile-capable warships that are under contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries. (PNA)
