USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: Good afternoon, MPC; kasama na natin si Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Good afternoon, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Good afternoon, MPC. Shoot!
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: Sir, doon sa Cabinet meeting last night na-discuss po ba ninyo ni Presidente iyong kay alyas ‘Bikoy’?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi sa Cabinet meeting but we talked, we had a huddle pero very short. Sinabi ko lang sa kaniya may lumabas, ganito, ganiyan…
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: And, what was the response of the President?
SEC. PANELO: Nakinig lang siya.
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: Nothing? He did say nothing?
SEC. PANELO: He was just listening.
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: Wala siyang sinabi?
SEC. PANELO: Wala. Kasi ang style ni Presidente, ‘pag may nag-iimbestiga na, hayaan na lang. He just wait for the report.
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: Walang statement sir si Presidente on Bikoy—
SEC. PANELO: Wala, ako ang nag-statement.
MYLENE ALFONSO/BULGAR: Sabi po kasi ni Senator Lacson na any day po this week, possible na magpatawag po ang Senate ng investigation about Bikoy.
SEC. PANELO: May collatilla siya, ‘di ba? Sabi niya, if this Bikoy can show evidence to make it meritorious to call a Senate investigation, he will. Eh ang problema kasi, eh sirang-sira na itong si Bikoy eh. Bikoy parang—iyong pangalan niya parang ano ‘no, parang pagkain. Kasi ‘di ba… kasi tingnan ninyo, iyon lang kay Bong Go nasira na siya doon, ‘ayan inilabas na naman kahapon iyong likod niya, ang linis. Number two, iyong mga binanggit niya roon, iyong Rural Bank of Guinobatan, Albay nagsalita na rin na walang katotohanan. Iyong isa pang resort, ganoon din. Plus ang kredibilidad niya napakabagsak – convicted pala siya, tapos marami pang kaso.
At mayroong—hindi ko lang muna pupuwedeng sabihin, but mayroong nakikita iyong mga nag-iimbestiga na could be a bombshell from the way I looked at it. Pero hindi ko na muna sasabihin, kasi I was asking them – one, two, three tapos sagutin ninyo muna itong tatlo kong tanong and then—or ibigay ninyo sa akin itong hinahanap and then I’ll release it to the public.
But very obvious na it’s a black propaganda, and it’s also obvious that he’s only being—parang ano lang siya rito, pawn – ginagamit.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hi sir, good afternoon. Sir, based po sa pakikipag-usap ninyo sa NBI, iyon bang Bikoy na lumutang kahapon, iyon din iyong Bikoy na tinutunton noong investigation nila? Kumbinsido ba kayo o iyong NBI—
SEC. PANELO: Ang PNP yata ang nag-iimbestiga. Ang NBI, doon sa isa.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Aah kay Rodel Jaime—
SEC. PANELO: Ang PNP, iyong kay Bikoy.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: So iyong binabanggit ninyo sir kanina, PNP iyon?
SEC. PANELO: PNP iyon.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Iyon din sir iyong taong iniimbestigahan nila, iyong lumutang kahapon o ibang—
SEC. PANELO: Oo iyong lumutang kahapon, iyon ang iniimbestigahan nila.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Ah, pero—iyon ang—naniniwala silang iyon talaga iyong Bikoy sa video?
SEC. PANELO: Wala silang sinabi, basta mayroon silang mga pinakita sa akin na—basta I’ll show you. Basta I’m still asking for some documents.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, regarding your statement.
SEC. PANELO: Which statement? I issued three statements.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: The Cabinet meeting statement, yeah. First item sir, on accelerating the implementation of the economic reform agenda. Did they specify which areas the government needs to work on?
SEC. PANELO: Hmm, wala akong naalala.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Uhum. Were you there, sir? Were you present during the presentation?
SEC. PANELO: I was present but… siguro that was the time I was talking to the President, noong lumabas kami doon sa kuwarto. Nag-ano kami eh, nag-‘May I go out’.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: But sir, how did the President take the BBB+ upgrade from the S&P?
SEC. PANELO: Oh, he’s pleased about the inflation rate and he expected that, kinda expected that because the economic managers have been telling us even previously na bababa talaga ‘yan.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: He was pleased. What did he exactly say?
SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang sinabi, but he was smiling when he was told na bumaba—
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: No, no, no the upgrade.
SEC. PANELO: —ang inflation rate.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: So sir, next: What’s the status of the quake-hit provinces and any instructions from the President pertaining to disaster preparedness?
SEC. PANELO: Eh ganoon pa rin, kasi prepared naman tayo kaya nga bilib siya; hindi ba pinuri niya during the situation briefing sa Porac. He complimented the agencies for performing their tasks, for being prepared.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Did they not mention if there’s anything that the government has to improve in terms of disaster response?
SEC. PANELO: Wala naman. Ang nangyari kagabi, ni-report lang kung ano iyong mga nangyari noong mga nakaraan.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Anyway sir, was the Writ of Kalikasan issued by the SC mentioned to the President?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, hindi namin napag-usapan iyong writ.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Next, sir: When will Canada start shipping out its garbage?
SEC. PANELO: They were given—the President gave May 15 as the deadline. If they cannot get that, then we will be shipping them out and throw them to the shores or beach of Canada.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: When is the deadline again, sir?
SEC. PANELO: 15, May 15. But from what I gather, kukunin daw nila kasi may nag-report doon eh.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Did the DFA sir provide any reasons why it took years for Canada to make such a move?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala namang sinabi si Secretary Locsin kahapon.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: So sir, did the AFP report on any threats to the conduct of elections?
SEC. PANELO: None that I know of.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Alright, thank you.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, going back lang kay Bikoy.
SEC. PANELO: Your favorite.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir itong paglantad nitong nagpapakilala na Bikoy, gaano ito ka-significant to prove the President’s claim that there is a conspiracy against him as shown in the matrix and also in dispelling the allegations against this certain Bikoy—by this certain Bikoy against the members of the Duterte family and Bong Go?
SEC. PANELO: What is significant is it’s obviously a black propaganda, because of the three things that I mentioned earlier. So until such time as the PNP will give us a full report on this particular person, eh hayaan na lang muna natin.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: What about the President’s claim that there is a conspiracy against him? Does his [Bikoy] surfacing prove the President’s allegations, sir?
SEC. PANELO: How’s that again?
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Eh kasi sinabi ninyo po that the President is claiming that there is a conspiracy against him as shown in the matrix na pinakita ninyo po sa amin. Itong paglantad po na nagpapakilalang Bikoy, do you think that it is a significant step to prove the President’s claim?
SEC. PANELO: It is a significant development that will show that indeed there are people behind the ouster of the President, because that video is definitely a move to discredit the President, for the people to lose trust in this President.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, sinabi ninyo kanina na it’s very obvious na iyong taong ito ay ginagamit lang bilang ‘pawn’. So where does that figure in the matrix? Kasi doon sa matrix parang hindi naman po pinapakita na—parang pinapakita lang doon – as per your explanation – that he is working with the journalists and lawyers pero hindi pinapakita doon sa matrix that there is someone behind him using him as a pawn.
SEC. PANELO: Yeah. In other words, apart from iyong mga nandoon sa matrix, mayroon pang isang—isa o grupo sa likod ni Bikoy. But sa ngayon, we will just be speculating kaya mas gusto kong ‘antayin iyong PNP.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Iyon ba ‘yung tinutukoy ninyo sir na bombshell doon sa investigation?
SEC. PANELO: Yes. May ‘inaantay akong mga dokumento for them to give them to me and to answer some questions I have asked. I’m asking them for specific dates, for specific venue.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Could it possibly implicate certain members of the opposition for example, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa alam.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Okay. Thank you, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Ace, you’re late. [laughs] Parang classroom eh, nasanay ako sa classroom, you’re late. Meron akong ikukuwento sa inyo. In one of my classes several years ago, may dumating na estudyante kong girl, eh the day before she was absent. “Miss, why were you absent last night?” ‘Di tayo siya. “Sir, I was having dysmenorrhea.” “You were not dying, were you?” “No, sir.” “Then I’ll give you a 5 for being late.” “Oh my God,” sabi niya. Eh dysmenorrhea lang naman pala, bakit ka absent? Nagreklamo kaagad. [laughs]
Q: OFF MIC
SEC. PANELO: Ah, kung migraine ibang usapan iyon. Kasi meron din akong kapatid na mga babae kapag may dysmenorrhea pumapasok pa rin eh.
RUTH GITA/SUNSTAR: Sir, Bikoy is denying links to personalities included po doon sa oust Duterte matrix.
SEC. PANELO: Ano? Ano iyon?
RUTH GITA/SUNSTAR: Bikoy is denying links po doon po sa mga personality na included sa oust Duterte matrix.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Ang napakinggan ko sa kanya, nagde-deny siya na he is connected with any politician. Wala siyang binanggit na hindi siya connected doon sa nakalagay sa matrix. But anyway, alam ninyo, even iyong kanyang threat, na sinasabing against his life, that’s a pretended act. Obvious na obvious naman na… sino ang magte-threaten sa kanya, hindi nga kilala, ngayon lang siya lumabas, suddenly bigla siyang na-threaten? When he exposed that video, he was hooded. Sino ang magte-threat sa kanya kung naka-hooded siya? Tapos suddenly haharap siya, sasabihin niya kaya ako lumabas dahil may threat sa buhay ko. Ha? Excuse me. Paano, sino ang mag-threaten sa iyo, eh hindi ka nga kilala eh, ngayon ka lang lumabas eh.
RUTH GITA/SUNSTAR: Pero, sir, sabi n’yo po there are strong indications po na Bikoy is just being used po by the President’s enemy?
SEC. PANELO: Eh kasi nga—look at the personality of this person – ex-con, tapos marami pang kaso, hinahanap siya, ang dami siyang warrant doon sa… from Bicol siya eh, from Sorsogon. So, paano naman—bakit naman—ano naman ang kaugnayan niya; ano namang motibo niya, nag-iisa lang.
RUTH GITA/SUNSTAR: Pero do you have anu info po doon sa mga tao po na iyon who might be controlling Bikoy?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi pa, hindi pa natin alam, kasi nga iniimbestigahan pa ng PNP.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Sir, good afternoon, sir. Sa pakikipag-usap n’yo po sa Pangulo kagabi regarding kay Bikoy, although hindi siya nagsalita or nag-comment, pero base po sa actuations niya at pagkakilala ninyo sa kanya personal. Gusto din po kaya ni Pangulo na maimbestigahan, maaresto at mapatay si Bikoy gaya ng kay Acierto?
SEC. PANELO: Ah, hindi. Di ba my statement: Kahit na kinakalaban ninyo ang gobyerno, we will not allow anyone to injure or to kill iyong mga taong tumutuligsa sa pamahalaan, hindi kami papayag doon; pangangalagaan natin lahat ang ating mga kababayan.
We will secure the safety of all Filipinos, regardless of their political affiliation, their religion or their persuasion, whether for or against this government.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Sir, sa tingin n’yo po sa paraan po ng pakikitungo ng pamahalaan sa mga ganitong personalidad, hindi po ba magkakaroon ng epekto or implication sa drug war at gayundin sa free speech sa bansa – iyong mapipigilan na iyong mga nais magsalita regarding sa mga alam nila sa droga?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman, kasi hanggang ngayon di ba, tatlong taon nang ganyan. Wala. As I have said repeatedly: Nobody has been haled to the court for any expression of dissent against the government. Ganyan kaming mga abogado eh, kasama iyan sa demokrasya eh, di sige. Basta wag ka lang mag-commit ng krimen, ibang usapan na iyon.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: So, despite po doon sa nabanggit n’yo po na fraudster si Bikoy at iyong mga allegations niya ay mga lies lang. Wala naman po siyang dapat ikatakot sa buhay niya?
SEC. PANELO: Eh unang-una nga, hindi nga totoo na merong banta sa buhay niya eh, kasi iyong sabi niyang pinagbantaan siya eh, hindi pa nga siya kilala eh, sino ang nagbanta sa iyo, hindi ka kilala. Doon lang ang laking kasinungalingan na iyon.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Sir, may schedule po ng PNP-AFP Command Conference mamayang hapon si Presidente sa Malacañang ng alas-kuwatro—
SEC. PANELO: Meron ba?
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Dito ba ipe-present sa kanya ng PNP, sir, iyong mga dokumento na sinasabi mo on Bikoy?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t think so. Ang kausap ko lang naman iyong imbestigador eh, hindi naman iyong Chief ng PNP.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: And this document, sir, is this another matrix?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa rin alam. Surprise!
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: So when do you expect, sir, na makuha itong mga dokumento na ito?
SEC. PANELO: As soon as they—if they can give it to me, di tawag kaagad ako ng ano, bababa ako sa inyo.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Itong araw na ito ba iyan, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Kung ibigay sa akin nga. Depende.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Okay, parang ayaw pa nila, saka na raw. Thank you.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Sir, in your statement you said that the DOE Secretary assured that there is enough power supply—
SEC. PANELO: Yes, sabi niya.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: During the elections? Does this mean that there are no plans to extend the holiday declaration, extending to say 14 as proposed—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa alam eh, I just texted ES kung merong… wala pang sagot eh.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Hindi sir, are you talking about May 13 or 14?
SEC. PANELO: 13 and 14. Kasi ang tanong ninyo kung 13 or 14 bibigyan ng suspension, kaya tinext ko si ES, wala pang sagot.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: During the Cabinet meeting was it—the proposal to extend the declaration up to 14?
SEC. PANELO: It was not discussed. If it was discussed, I think that’s another time when we were in the other room. Kasi nung bumalik ako, oh sabi ko, ‘bakit wala na iyong election,’ ‘tapos na.’
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Sir, on the OFW Bank po. What was the reason why it has yet to operate more than a year after it’s launching, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Ah, that one, and explanation yata ni Secretary Bello, kasi wala pang naa-appoint na tatlong members ng board. Kaya sabi ni Presidente, oh bilisan n’yo ng pag-vet diyan, para makaka-appoint na ako.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Sino ba dapat sir iyong maga-appoint po nito Landbank po ba?
SEC. PANELO: Si Presidente, but bine-vet iyan nila Secretary of Finance.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: So, nakapag-appoint na po iyong Landbank, sir, ng members sa board?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi pa nga, ang mag-a-appoint nga noon si Presidente. Iyon nga ang naging reason ba’t hindi naka-operate, kaya pinapamadali niya na iyong vetting.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: So, tatlo lang, sir, iyong hindi pa napupunuan?
SEC. PANELO: Hmm.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Tapos, sir, aside from this, were there any other reasons cited for the delayed establishment of the OFW Bank, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Iyon lang naman ang binanggit.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Okay. When can we expect these appointments to be made, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Well, as soon as the recommendation of the Secretary of Finance is there, mag-a-appoint kaagad si Presidente.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Okay, sir. So can we expect the OFW Bank to be operational siguro by the end of second quarter?
SEC. PANELO: As soon as there is an appointment with the three members of the board, operational na kaagad iyan. May quorum na.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Okay, sir. Bakit po natagalan iyong appointment, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Alam mo sa dami kasi rin ng trabaho, you cannot also—ang dami talagang trabaho sa gobyerno, natural lang iyon.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na hindi priority ng government itong OFW Bank?
SEC. PANELO: Priority nga di ba, pag mag-problema ng OFW, palaging mabilis ang aksyon ni Presidente.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Okay, sir. On another topic, sir, doon sa Canadian waste lang. Moving forward, did the President give any order to government agencies for this situation not to happen again, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Oh, yes, he said henceforth, we will not be receiving any kind of waste in this country.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Sa government contracts, last na lang, sir from me. Is there any update on the status of the review of the government contracts, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Which contract?
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Iyong… ‘di ba mayroon pong in-order si President na review ng contract, sir, na gagawin sana ng OSG and DOJ? Iyong last Cabinet meeting po na pinag-usapan, sir, iyong mga onerous contracts na iri-review?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa akong naririnig na nag-submit ng report. Kung mayroon man ay baka pinag-aaralan ni Presidente.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Another topic, sir. Can you confirm reports po na pinirmahan na ni Pangulong Duterte iyong First Time Job Seekers Assistance Act? Iyon pong batas, panukalang batas na naglalayong i-waive na iyong mga babayaran sa NBI clearance, police clearance ng mga first time job seekers.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa naririnig iyon. Paki-check mo nga sa ES.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Pero, sir, most likely, the President will sign it? At ano po iyong … gaano siya nagmamalasakit sa mga first time job seekers, kasi wala pa nga po silang suweldo, wala silang trabaho? So sa tingin ninyo po ay maaprubahan ito?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, hindi ba ang programa niya ay “Tapang at Malasakit,” kaya pasok iyon.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Dahil, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Malasakit nga eh, eh di palagi siyang may empathy sa lahat ng mga nangangailangan.
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Sec., follow up lang. May update na ba doon sa dismissal letters?
SEC. PANELO: I asked him.
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Ano, Sec?
SEC. PANELO: When? Sabi niya, “Malapit na. I’ll make an announcement.” Malapit na.
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Mga kailan kaya raw, Sec?
SEC. PANELO: Eh ewan ko. Basta sabi niya, “Malapit na.”
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Mga ilan daw? Nabanggit ba niya ilan…?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, wala siyang sinabi.
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Or hini-hint ano iyong ranggo or posisyon?
SEC. PANELO: Surprise!
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Forthcoming?
SEC. PANELO: Definitely, forthcoming na iyon.
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Okay. Iyong sa MWSS, iyong document na sinabmit nila, Sec., regarding sa—
SEC. PANELO: Iyon nga ang sinasabi kong magri-release na siya ng announcement tungkol doon, kung ano ang gagawin niya doon sa MWSS.
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Isasabay niya na iyong dismissal doon sa MWSS at saka doon sa water concessionaires?
SEC. PANELO: Basta ang sabi niya, “I’ll make an announcement regarding that.”
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Or baka we’re talking about the same thing?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, we’re talking about both – iyong sa report plus iyong dismissal and many others.
ACE ROMERO/ PHIL STAR: Hindi naman necessarily na iyong idi-dismiss—
SEC. PANELO: Basta maraming mangyayari sa susunod na araw.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: No, but, sir, clearly kasi sure na mayroong dismissal letters ‘di ba? And then you mentioned it’s related to the water situation, MWSS and water concessionaires. So right now we can say that—
SEC. PANELO: But among others, baka mayroon pang iba.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: Hindi po certain that those who will be fired will include MWSS officials?
SEC. PANELO: Basta may mga idi-dismiss siya.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: From MWSS or others?
SEC. PANELO: From the government.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, there was also a presentation on Bangon Marawi. So what’s the—
SEC. PANELO: Nilagay doon iyong mga priorities nila. Marami eh. But…—
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Like?
SEC. PANELO: Like iyong mga housing units, marami na. Mga tatlong libo mahigit, marami eh. Staggered iyong kanilang mga pag-rehabilitate.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: So any word from the President?
SEC. PANELO: Di nakikinig lang kami doon sa nagpi-present kung ano ang ginagawa na nila sa ano… In other words, okay pa rin iyong rehabilitation. It’s going and pushing through.
RALPH VILLANUEVA/THE MANILA TIMES: Sir, may statement po si Anthony Castelo ng Dakilang Lahi Foundation, sir. Sabi niya po mayroon daw pong serious oust Duterte plot that may include the assassination of the President, sir. May comment po ba kayo? Are you aware of this, sir?
SEC. PANELO: No, ngayon lang, sinabi mo.
RALPH VILLANUEVA/THE MANILA TIMES: Sir, any comment po dito?
SEC. PANELO: Well, sana he can provide us with more information. Or he should provide the police and other law enforcement agencies about the threat on assassination.
RALPH VILLANUEVA/THE MANILA TIMES: Sabi po niya kasi ano, it may be in full swing kasi malapit na po iyong elections, kung kailan daw po watak-watak iyong mga tao, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Well, I’m sure the PSG knows their job, the PSG guys. At saka—another thing, alam mo, this President couldn’t care less whether you will assassinate him eh. Iyon nga ang kagandahan sa Presidenteng ito eh – daredevil. He dares everyone, “Di patayin ninyo kung gusto ninyo basta I’ll work. That’s my mandate.”
RALPH VILLANUEVA/THE MANILA TIMES: Okay, sir. Pero wala naman pong immediate threat na nakikita lately?
SEC. PANELO: Alam mo, basta Presidente ka, palaging may threat; palaging may threat sa kalaban. Maraming enemies of the state eh. But so far naman, okay naman iyong Presidential Security Group so …
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: Sir, good afternoon po. Sir, sa Cabinet meeting po last night, nabanggit din po iyong preparations for the Southeast Asian Games?
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: Sir, to confirm: It was the Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee na nagbigay po ng updates kay Presidente?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, it was former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Cayetano who presented.
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: Sir, na-raise po ba ni Secretary Cayetano iyong pag-question daw po ng Philippine Olympic Committee regarding sa legality ng organizing committee because it was—
SEC. PANELO: Ang nabanggit niya ganito, “Alam mo pala, Mr. President, akala ko sports, sports lang. Pero mas matindi pala ang pulitika doon kaysa sa gobyerno.” Iyon ang sabi niya.
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: So, sir, will the President step in anytime soon considering po na malaking budget po iyong pinag-uusapan?
SEC. PANELO: Eh mukha namang—no. Mukhang si Presidente … in fact, there was a motion there to approve the presentation, as well as to direct iyong pondo na i-prepare kasi mukhang it will put us again in the world map given the fact that 11 countries will be participating.
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: So, sir, dati po kasi parang may hinihintay pong executive order regarding the SEA Games po especially with regard to the budget. Is the President inclined to issue that?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, okay lang kasi nga may directive na siya kahapon na ayusin na kaagad, i-release na iyong mga funds na kailangan.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, what did you mean na matindi ang pulitika doon?
SEC. PANELO: Sino ba itong mga cameraman? May nag-text sa akin, “Will you please ask PTV 4 cameraman to take more shots of you from side view, whole body?” Bakit kaya? Sino bang director?
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, sa SEA Games, sir. Anong ibig sabihin iyon na matindi ang pulitika doon?
SEC. PANELO: Ibig sabihin, from the way I understood the Secretary, may mga kumukontra. Alam mo kasi ang Pilipino, ‘di ba gusto nila na sila ang may—
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Kumukontra sa pag-organize?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman niya in-elaborate. But hindi ba, ever since, palagi ko rin nababasa diyan sa sports, ‘di ba iyong Commission na iyan palaging nag-aaway sila diyan? Siguro iyon ang pulitika.
MYLENE ALFONSO/BULGAR: Napirmahan na po kaya ng Pangulo iyong Safe Spaces Bill?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa—pa-check natin, hindi ko pa alam.
MYLENE ALFONSO/BULGAR: Kasi nag-lapse na po siya into law April 21 po.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa alam kung napirmahan na niya at hindi pa nari-release.
NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.NET: Sir, you mentioned in your statement that the President ordered that the Philippines will no longer accept any waste from any country.
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.NET: Can you elaborate on this, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Ibig sabihin—eh kasi parang bakit nakakapasok nga naman? Nakakapasok iyong mga container na basura ang laman. Kaya hindi na—he directed the Bureau of Customs na hindi na tatanggapin. Kasi iyong basura naman, nakalagay din iyon kung anong laman ‘di ba, hindi naman tinatago iyon.
Okay? Ladies and gentlemen, I need to go. Nandiyan na yata ang aking pick-up.
USEC. IGNACIO: Thank you, MPC. Thank you, Secretary Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Thank you.
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Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
