Unfazed by demolition job

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today said he is unfazed by the recent attacks hurled against him by some sinister group out to distract the Senate blue ribbon committee's investigation into the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Gordon said he finds it suspicious that attacks against him surface just before the Senate blue ribbon committee he chairs would always present new witnesses with damning evidence against perpetrators of the fertilizer fund scam.

"I am not surprised I am now the target of hatchet jobs. The resurrection of these old cases that had long been dismissed is clearly a desperate political demolition job to discredit me and my reputation as a public servant," he said.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is scheduled to resume tomorrow (Jan. 26) its investigation into the P728-million fertilizer fund scam purportedly engineered by former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante.

"The Senate shall stand steadfast on its sworn duty to check the excesses of any public officials along with their cohorts and patrons. We shall never yield, not before, not now, not ever," Gordon added.

Gordon was taking issue at the resurrection of a long dismissed move by former Congressman Dante Liban to oust him as chairman and chief executive officer of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

"Red Cross is a voluntary and independent organization. Under the law, every Filipino dedicated to serving with dignity and honor his fellow human beings should be a member of the Red Cross," he said, referring to Republic Act 95.

In 2006, Liban had been expelled as chairman of PNRC-Quezon City Chapter in a unanimous vote upheld by the Court of Appeals. He has been reportedly charged for robbery and estafa for failing to account P10 million of Red Cross funds.

Gordon also took exception at the call for the Ombudsman by the Crusade for a Better Philippines Movement (CBPM) chaired by Michael Say to make public graft cases against him which have long dismissed several years ago.

"I am not afraid that these old, rehashed issues have now been resurrecting because I know they are politically motivated. Nothing shall deter me from serving the people who put their trust on us," Gordon said.

Gordon said the move to resurrect the issue on the cases filed against him when he was still chairman of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is a clear indication of a desperate campaign to discredit him and taint his good name.

According to him, a quick check with the Ombudsman would show that these three cases had long been dismissed by then Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo as early as April 26, 2004.

He said that the recent attacks against him is nothing but a political smear campaign to mess up with the investigation of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which has successfully convinced witnesses to testify before the panel.