Senator Richard Gordon dared President Rodrigo Duterte on September 21, to do his worst to him as he did to ABS-CBN during the Senator’s opening remarks at the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the alleged overpriced pandemic supplies.
Senator Gordon alluded to alleged actions that President Rodrigo took against his perceived enemies, including ABS-CBN.
“Quite frankly, Mr. President, you are boring. ‘Di ako natatakot sa inyo. ‘Di po ako duwag. Do your worst, as you did with the ABS-CBN. Do your worst like what you did to senator who was elected by the people. I know you will try to do your worst like you did with Speaker (Prospero) Nograles before, when you used ‘P.I.’ to a very very respected schoolmate from Ateneo.”
Gordon also said he wasn’t going to waste his time on President Duterte.
“I’m not going to waste my time with you, Mr. President, because you’re no longer respectable as far as I’m concerned and as far as most of the Filipinos are concerned.”
Gordon recalled what happened to his father while fearlessly calling President Duterte a bully after the President’s latest tirade.
“You are a bully. The Filipino people can fight back against bullies. Halatang-halata kayo. Namemersonal na kayo… Bakit ninyo ako inaaway? Ginagawa ko lang ang ang aking tungkulin.
“Saktan ninyo na ako… Pinatay na tatay ko, pinahirapan tatay ko, grinagranada, inaabangan. You think matatakot ako sa isang nilalang? Takot ako sa Diyos, takot ako sa tao pero hindi ako duwag.”
In 2020, Congress denied ABS-CBN’s franchise causing the Network to shut down. The House of Representatives investigated alleged violations of ABS-CBN, such as tax evasion, unfair labor practices, and breaches of their franchise, however, none of the allegations proved to be true.