MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday took a swipe at President Rodrigo Duterte and long-time aide Senator Bong Go for visiting luxury watch stores after the latter formalized his candidacy for vice president.
During the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee on the government鈥檚 pandemic purchases and its transactions with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., Gordon mentioned the luxury cars acquired by the firm鈥檚 executives.
鈥淎ng gaganda at mamahalin. Meron po tayong tinatawag sa Civil Code, conspicuous consumption in times of crisis. May krisis po tayo, nakuha pa nilang bumili,鈥� Gordon said.
(All were luxurious and pricey. In our Civil Code, we have something called conspicuous consumption in times of crisis. We have a crisis yet they can still buy such things.)
鈥淧arang yung President at saka Sec. [Sen.] Bong Go na matapos silang mag-file ng candidacy, hindi ko maintindihan bakit sila nagpunta sa isang gusali na nagtitinda ng mamahaling mga relo doon sa isang mamahalin na department store,鈥� he went on.
(Like the President and Sen. Bong Go, after he filed his candidacy, I do not understand why they went to luxury watch stores.)
鈥淒i ba natin nalalaman nahihirapan ang mga tao, pupunta pa tayo doon sa lugar ng marangya?鈥� the senator further said.
(Are we not aware that a lot of people are suffering, yet still go to luxury shops?)
Go鈥檚 answer
In response, Go defended his and Duterte鈥檚 visit to the mall, saying they did not purchase any luxury watch and only 鈥渂ought cookies鈥� during their trip to a mall.
鈥淧ati ba naman 鈥榶ung pagpunta niya ng mall, gagawan pa ng malisya. Karapatan naman ng sinuman iyon,鈥� Go said in a statement.
(Even our visit to the mall is given malice? It鈥檚 everyone鈥檚 right.)
鈥淣agyaya siya (Duterte) na dumaan muna nang saglit sa mall na matagal na niyang hindi napupuntahan bago umuwi. Kita naman kahit sa picture na nasa telepono pa rin ako at nagtatrabaho pa rin. May mga iilan ring lumapit para magpa-picture sa kanya at in-entertain rin naman niya,鈥� he added.
(He asked if we could visit a mall for a bit because it鈥檚 been a while since he has done so. In the photos, I can be seen with my phone because I鈥檓 still working. Then there are some who are asking for photos, so we entertained them.)
Go said Duterte only wanted to walk around after several months of being cooped up inside.
鈥淪abi nga ng Pangulo, konti na lang at matatapos na ang kanyang termino. Makakapahinga na daw siya [As what the President said, he has little time left in his term. He can now rest]. He is excited to return to being an ordinary citizen after decades in public service,鈥� the senator said.
READ: President Duterte announces retirement from politics