Gordon supporters hit ‘dirty tricks’

Socio-civic sectors in Olongapo City condemned yesterday the "dirty tricks" allegedly peddled by the camp of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Felicito Payumo to block the confirmation of Richard Gordon as tourism secretary.

"The Payumo camp, in a desperate last-ditch attempt to derail Secretary Gordon’s confirmation, is peddling malicious lies and recycling discredited charges," Kapisanan ng mga Aktibong Mamayan ng Olongapo (Kamao) president Alfredo Villanueva said.

Gordon, a former SBMA chief, was all set to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments but the CA ran out of time.

During the initial hearing last Oct. 10, the members of the commission headed by Sen. Blas Ople voiced unanimous support for the appointment of Gordon, citing his remarkable achievements as former SBMA chairman.

The members were visibly impressed with the presentation made by Gordon regarding his achievements and proposed action plan to bring back the Philippines as a favored tourism destination in Asia.

Villanueva said former Ombudsman Prosecutor Gualberto de la Llana and SBMA internal audit department head Antonio Mendoza, who filed written opposition to the confirmation of Gordon at the behest of Payumo, were present during the hearings.

They witnessed for themselves that the CA was poised to confirm the appointment of Gordon were it not for the lack of time to conclude the proceedings.

Ople acknowledged that it was precisely because of the enviable track record of Secretary Gordon as former Olongapo City mayor and SBMA chairman that he stirred a lot of controversy among local oppositionists such as Dela Llana. This explains the reason why Dela Llana and other Payumo supporters attempted to block Gordon’s appointment by filing several anti-graft cases against him, Kamao said.

The group noted that the CA agreed cases should not be taken seriously because they are politically motivated, dwelling on petty and baseless issues. They even included Gordon’s alleged American citizenship which has long been resolved by the courts.