COA chief cited in contempt after insulting Gordon, but escaped detention

Chairman Guillermo Carague of the Commission on Audit (COA) was declared in contempt of the Senate after he shouted invectives at Sen. Richard Gordon and called him names during a Senate hearing yesterday.

However, Carague escaped detention after he apologized to Gordon, who immediately lifted the order of contempt.

The incident started when Carague raised his voice during a hearing of the Senate committee on government corporations and public enterprises, committees on education, arts and culture, and the committee on finance.

Piqued at Gordon’s line of questioning, Carague shouted invectives at the senator, even pointing a finger at him at one point.

Gordon yelled back: “I am the problem? You are under contempt and please shut up. This is a senator of the Republic of the Philippines. I was elected, you were appointed. I’m exercising my authority here. I did not insult you. There was none… you’re out of line, you’re so sensitive.”

Gordon added: “But don’t try to lecture me on what the problems of the government are because I don’t appreciate it.”

Carague shot back: “Neither should I be lectured on how to run the government.”

Gordon retorted: “Did I lecture you?”

Carague replied: “Neither should I be lectured… You lectured to me if…”

Gordon cut him off: “What is your problem?”

Carague answered him: “Tell me that if I lectured to you...”

At this point, Carague stood up and walked out of the hearing, Gordon tried to stop Carague from leaving the room, and they continued to yell at one another.

“No! no! no!” Gordon shouted as Carague headed for the door.

“You cannot go right now. Can you call the sergeant-at-arms and put this gentleman under contempt? I don’t know why you’re hot-headed.”

In response, Carague shouted at Gordon that he was being “dictatorial.”

“Dictatorial?” Gordon shot back.

“I’m Dick Gordon. I am not dictatorial. Pahuli niyo yan. Pahuli niyo yan. What is that about? You put him under contempt. Did I say anything wrong? Did you get the impression that I was saying something against him? Why is he so sensitive, ha?”

As he continued walking to the corridor, Carague called Gordon an “uncouth” person, whom he resented for “putting me down.”

Gordon yelled at Carague that he had Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman Camilo Sabio declared in contempt for similar behavior during the 13th Congress.

“You are under contempt, mister,” he shouted. “I put people like you, like Sabio in contempt. I will not hesitate to put you... You don’t do that to any member of the Senate here.”

As Carague walked towards the elevator on the second floor, Senate security stopped him, and reminded him that he cannot leave the Senate because he had been cited for contempt.

Forced to go back to the hearing, which had gone on recess, witnesses heard Carague shouting invectives at Gordon and saying that he should not have been elected senator.  

Carague later apologized to Gordon, who readily accepted the apology.

“Your honor, I would like to apologize for any adverse comment I have made,” he said.

“I’d like to put it on record that I have high respect and admiration for Senantor Dick Gordon. His track record in public life is very clear for everyone to see. I would like to apologize, your honor.”

Gordon said the incident should not have happened, and that he had always had the highest respect for Carague.