ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Magandang hapon, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Good afternoon.
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: Good afternoon, sir. Are you ready sa commute challenge mo tomorrow?
SEC. PANELO: Lagi naman akong ready eh.
MPC: Wow!
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: And, can you give us more details sir? What time and where?
SEC. PANELO: Secret! Secret. You’ll just hear about it and see it.
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: And, may mga preparations po ba kayo sir na ginagawa para bukas?
SEC. PANELO: Wala. Basta ako, sasakay. Tapos.
CHONA YU/RADIO INQUIRER: Without media coverage, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Ewan ko sa inyo. Hindi ko alam.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, ano lang, for soundbyte purposes. Do you accept the challenge to commute?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ba mayroon na akong statement? Accepted.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Parang lumalambot tayo sir ah. Ano, do you accept the challenge?
SEC. PANELO: Kahapon pa ‘di ba? Kahapon pa, accepted.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. Bakit, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Bakit naman hindi? Bakit nga hindi? I’m asking you, bakit hindi?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Hindi. I mean ano lang, reason lang why you accepted.
SEC. PANELO: O, eh hinahamon tayo ‘di tanggapin natin.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And, what do you hope to gain from the experience?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t know what they hope to gain from their challenge; so, you ask them.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: But do you think sir that the—it will contribute to maybe your appreciation of the situation of our public?
SEC. PANELO: No. Because as I said in my statement, whether you’re a motorist, you’re a commuter, you suffer the same. Wala namang pagbabago iyon, ganoon din iyon. All of us are affected by—kaya iyong crisis, crisis in the suffering of all – hindi paralysis. That’s why I said walang crisis, wala naman kasing paralysis eh. Ang crisis, tayong lahat may crisis; we are suffering from it. May crisis doon sa management ng LRT pati iyong mga bus, iyon ang crisis. Pero iyong transport mismo, as a means of transportation, since walang paralysis, walang crisis. It doesn’t mean na hindi tayo nagsa-suffer. We are all suffering.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir ano lang, your message to the commuters na didn’t take too well iyong sinabi ninyo that there’s no crisis.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Siguro hindi nila naintindihan iyong sinabi ko, kaya nga pinaliwanag ko kahapon—kagabi pa eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And, you stand by that statement?
SEC. PANELO: Alin?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Na there’s no mass—
SEC. PANELO: Eh paulit-ulit na eh. Iyong crisis ay ang crisis sa ating paghihirap, pero iyong transportation as a means, walang crisis kasi nandiyan pa rin eh; walang paralysis nga eh. Sa akin kasi ‘pag crisis ng transport, wala na tayong masakyan, sarado lahat, hindi gumagalaw iyong LRT, walang bus, walang jeepney – iyon ang tunay na crisis. But if you ask me may crisis ba tayo sa paghihirap natin – ah definitely. May crisis ba tayo sa management nitong mga LRT, bus and… sa traffic management – oh definitely. Iyon, iyon ang crisis.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: What do you think should be done immediately?
SEC. PANELO: Immediately? Ang alam ko ginagawan daw nila ng paraan. ‘Di ba sabi ng LRT, they are doing something about it; MMDA is doing something about it. Pero ang puno’t dulo niya, iyong sinasabi ni Presidente, “Noon pa kasi ako humihingi ng emergency power eh, ayaw ninyo akong bigyan. Bibigyan ninyo ako ngayong late na, kaya hindi ko tinanggap.”
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And inatras na iyon nina Secretary Tugade, right?
SEC. PANELO: Ang alin?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Inatras na po ‘yun, iyong emergency powers?
SEC. PANELO: Eh kasi nga ayaw na ni Presidente.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Hi sir, good afternoon. Sir, when was the last time na na-experience po ninyo na mag-commute?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, ganito ‘no. Ordinaryo sa akin ‘yan kasi mayroon akong driver, pero ang driver ko minsan nakakatulog, hinahanap mo wala na. So, anong gagawin mo? O eh ‘di magko-commute ka na lang – either mag-taxi ka or mag-jeep ka papunta sa isang lugar na may taxi. So ordinaryo iyon, hindi problema sa akin iyong pag-commute. Matagal na akong nagko-commute.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: And so when was the last time, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Abogado pa—what do you mean?
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: When was the last time na sumakay po kayo ng jeep or ng taxi?
SEC. PANELO: Siguro two months ago.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Two months ago. And, how’s your experience two months ago?
SEC. PANELO: Eh ganoon— ‘di ba, sabi ko nga ganoon, pare-pareho ang experience ng lahat eh. Basta sumakay ka ngayon kahit anong sasakyan, whether you’re in a car, air-conditioned car, may driver ka, magsa-suffer ka sa traffic… na hindi gumagalaw.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: So far sir, ano iyong expectations po ninyo na mangyayari tomorrow, na after two months magko-commute kayo uli—
SEC. PANELO: Eh ganoon pa rin. It’s the same – you suffer.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Uhum. And one thing more sir, ang sinasabi po kasi ng ilang mga grupo, sana sa pagko-commute ninyo tomorrow walang mga kasamang mga security—
SEC. PANELO: Eh kayo ba nakita ninyo na ba akong may security ever since I assumed office in the government? None. Kahit sa mga biyahe ko sa abroad, wala rin akong kasama, zero din ako. Pumunta ka sa mall, makikita mo akong mag-isang lumalakad. Kahit saan, nag-iisa ako palagi.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Okay. Thank you, sir.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, the challenge came from Bayan, Bayan Muna and Anak Bayan. So clearly, you gave into their wants and their demands.
SEC. PANELO: No, not necessarily. Tinanggap ko lang iyong hamon nila; but I’ll do it my way.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: I mean, what are you trying to prove sir? You want to experience—
SEC. PANELO: I’m not trying to prove anything, I’m just accepting their challenge.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So, it’s pointless. I mean, why?
SEC. PANELO: Anong pointless, eh ‘di tinanggap mo iyong hamon. Pag hindi ko tinanggap ang hamon marami pa silang daldal. O eh ‘di sige na, tanggap na.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Pero ‘di ba parang damned if you do, damned if you don’t pa rin, kasi kung after niyan sigurado babatikusin ka—
SEC. PANELO: O eh ‘di hayaan mo sila. Eh sanay naman tayo sa batikos eh, ano pa bang bago?
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So, will you do this just for tomorrow or you will try to do this—
SEC. PANELO: Eh ‘di abangan ninyo na lang. Sabi ko nga, secret. You’ll hear about it and maybe you’ll see something about it.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So, no media coverage?
SEC. PANELO: As far as I know, wala.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Very good [laughter].
SEC. PANELO: Maraming gusto, pero tinanggihan ko lahat.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Maniwala naman ako sir!
SEC. PANELO: Oo, tinanggihan ko. Tinanggihan ko ang ABS-CBN, tinanggihan ko si Henry, tinanggihan ko si Joseph. Basta lahat wala, I’ll just do it on my own.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Okay. So, hindi ka magbibigay ng hint kung saan ka manggagaling, saan ka sasakay, walang oras?
SEC. PANELO: Walang hint, nothing.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Rush hour ba ‘yan, sir?
SEC. PANELO: O eh ‘di baka may makakilala… I’m sure mayroong—kung may makakakilala ‘di may makukuha, ‘di ipo-post nila. Ganoon na lang.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Sir mamayang gabi may magbabantay na sa bahay ninyo. Sir, sabi ninyo kanina sir—naano ko doon ha…
SEC. PANELO: Just wait. Antayin na lang natin.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Okay. Pero sir, ano ang unang-unang naisip ninyo noong in-accept ninyo iyong challenge?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala akong naisip.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Ibig sabihin, sa kanila… hindi mo alam sabi mo kung ano ‘yung kanilang magi-gain. On your part?
SEC. PANELO: Hayaan mo na sila. Basta tinanggap na natin, tapos na ang usapan, tapos ang kuwento. Let’s see how it evolves. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Ano sir, kung ano ‘yung positive man lang na mangyayari diyan sa pag-accept mo ng challenge?
SEC. PANELO: Ewan ko sa kanila. Let’s go to more important topics.
ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBN NEWS.COM: Hi, sir. Sir, on the same topic lang. You earlier said it was a silly challenge. What made you change your mind?
SEC. PANELO: It’s a silly acceptance.
ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBN NEWS.COM: Okay, sir. Pero sir, what message are you trying to send in accepting the challenge?
SEC. PANELO: Nothing.
ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBN NEWS.COM: So, gagawin ninyo siya sir just for nothing?
SEC. PANELO: Kung ano ‘yung challenge nila, ‘di tinanggap ko lang. O sige, basta gawin na lang natin para matapos na.
ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBN NEWS.COM: Sir, don’t you think it’s a waste of your time if it’s a silly acceptance?
SEC. PANELO: It’s not. When you share the suffering of other people in a different way, it’s not a waste of time – it’s sharing.
ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBN NEWS.COM: Thank you, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Kayo ba nagko-commute lahat?
MPC: Yes.
SEC. PANELO: Sinong walang kotse? Si Joseph hindi makataas ng kamay [laughs]. Kaya nga exactly may kotse ka. Eh kamusta naman? Are you affected by the… [laughs] Oh you see, iyon nga ‘yung point ko eh. Lahat naapektuhan, ke may kotse o wala.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yes sir. Taga-Quezon ako, so problema ko ‘yang SLEX northbound. So yes, I experience traffic.
SEC. PANELO: Lahat talaga maaapektuhan, lahat.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, sabi ni Bayan Sec-Gen Nato Reyes, sasamahan ka daw niya bukas.
SEC. PANELO: ‘Di sumama siya, kung alam niya ako saan pupunta [laughs].
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So sir without going into too much detail, iyong commute challenge ninyo ba gagawin ninyo during the rush hour?
SEC. PANELO: Basta secret.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Hindi, because we want to make sure.
SEC. PANELO: Wala. Basta…
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Hindi, kasi baka mag-commute kayo 11, wala nang tao.
SEC. PANELO: Basta, secret. Abangan ninyo na lang.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So sabi sir, sabi po ni Nato Reyes sir, so no security, no hawi boys, no bodyguards, no special treatment, no waiting cars and during rush hour like the rest of the commuters. Will that be complied, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Apparently hindi niya ako kilala kaya niya sinasabi ‘yan. Apparently hindi niya ako kilala by saying that.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So sir you will comply? [Laughs]
SEC. PANELO: Anong comply? [Laughs]
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Kasi ito ‘yung mga parang rules kasi na ni-lay down kasi nila eh.
SEC. PANELO: Walang mga rules-rules. Basta just watch.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Kasi sir, the initial challenge is one week na mag-commute. So kaya ba ‘yun, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Walang ganoon. Basta sinabi nila mag-comm—sabi niya, mag-commute ka. Mag-commute kayo – o ‘di sige, mag-commute.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: One week sir ang initial challenge—
SEC. PANELO: Secret. O, iba namang topic.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, last na lang sir. Sir before we move on to another topic, ito po sir na ginagawa ninyo, don’t you think na parang iniinsulto ninyo iyong paghihirap ng riding public sa—or you’re trivializing what they’re going through every day?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ba—‘di ang hamon nga para maranasan daw. O ‘di sige para maranasan, although sinasabi ko na kahit na hindi ka mag-commute, nararanasan mo pa rin iyong paghihirap. Pero para lang pagbigyan sila, o sige gawin natin.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So you admit sir na you don’t have to go through this challenge to feel what the commuters are feeling every day?
SEC. PANELO: Of course! Dahil lahat tayo naaapektuhan ng ano, paghihirap eh.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So, why go through this challenge at all?
SEC. PANELO: In sympathy with those who are making the challenge – if they’re commuting ha. Hindi ko nga alam kung nagko-commute sila. Are they commuting?
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: I assume sir nagko-commute sila.
SEC. PANELO: I don’t think so. May mga kotse ‘yan eh, but they are still… pareho lang lahat ng nagko-commute – nagsa-suffer pa rin.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Sir, pero hindi naman po tayo na-pressure kaya in-accept po natin iyong challenge na ‘to?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Pinagbigyan ko lang sila.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Since pagbibigyan natin sila sir, sabi mo you want to share the sufferings noong mga commuters dapat—kasi sir kung—
SEC. PANELO: Diyan mo—actually iyong acceptance, just to show to them na hindi totoo ‘yung sinasabi nila na hindi tayo naghihirap. Para makita, o sige, para makita ninyo na hindi ka kailangan mag-kotse… lahat tayo palaging tatamaan ng paghihirap ng bawat isa.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: But, are you willing to go out of your way sir kasi—
SEC. PANELO: O, ano bang tawag mo doon? That’s going out of the way already.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Yes, sir. Pero kung manggagaling sa bahay ninyo sir—
SEC. PANELO: Whether manggaling ka saan, basta ikaw nag-commute from one point to another, ganoon pa rin iyon – nagko-commute ka pa rin.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Kasi kung iyong LRT na manggagaling sa inyo sir, medyo maluwang iyon sir.
SEC. PANELO: Not necessarily, hindi mo nga alam kung saan ako nakatira eh. You’re assuming something [laughs]—
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: So, not necessarily?
SEC. PANELO: Basta magko-commute tayo.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Tomorrow?
SEC. PANELO: Tomorrow.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Rush hour?
SEC. PANELO: Basta magko-commute tayo.
HANNAH SANCHO/DZAR: Pipila tayo sir?
SEC. PANELO: Maghintay na lang …makikita ninyo na lang pruweba.
CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Sir, sabi ninyo po nag-commute kayo two months ago. Would you know magkano ang pamasahe sa dyip ngayon?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi dyip – taxi.
CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Iyong sa LRT sir, alam ninyo kung magkano?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, taxi – taxi. LRT, hindi. Hindi ko alam ang pamasahe sa LRT. Magkano ba? Kuwarenta? Thirty, kuwarenta? Depende sa destination.
CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Sa dyip sir, alam ninyo ba kung magkano ang pamasahe sa dyip?
SEC. PANELO: Depende yata kung saan ka galing.
CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Minimum?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam. Basta iyong isang worker ko, binibigyan ko ng 75 pesos, okay na daw sa kaniya iyon.
CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Alam ninyo sir, magkano ang senior discount?
SEC. PANELO: Mayroon ba? Paano naman nila malalaman, kailangan mayroon ka pang I.D.?
BELLA CARIASO/BANDERA: Hi, sir. Good afternoon. Sir, critics are saying that the fact that Secretary Tugade is asking for emergency power for the President, hindi ba iyon admission na mayroon nga tayong mass transport crisis sa bansa? And bakit ba napakahirap i-admit since iyon naman talaga sir, ang reality even when—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, ang problema kasi hindi ninyo pinapakinggan. Sa akin kasi kapag sinabi mong crisis, may paralysis. Pero kung sinasabi ninyo iyong crisis ay naghihirap tayo – mayroon nga, naghihirap tayo eh.
Sa akin kasi kapag sinabi mong crisis in transport, may paralysis iyong transport – wala kang magamit na train; wala kang magamit na sasakyan. Kumbaga, para kang nag-nationwide strike na hindi kumilos lahat – iyon ang tunay.
BELLA CARIASO/BANDERA: Pero iyong emergency power sir, ‘di ba kailangan iyon ng extra solution para i-solve iyong ano—
SEC. PANELO: Iyong emergency power ay para to ease nga ang problema natin sa traffic.
BELLA CARIASO/BANDERA: So you stand by your position, there’s no mass transport crisis?
SEC. PANELO: Iyon nga ang definition ko ng crisis eh. Eh ang definition ninyo naman ng crisis, tinutumbok ninyo lang iyong traffic na mahirap. Ako hindi lang iyon. Ang crisis sa akin ay iyong talagang paralysis. So depende siguro sa definition mo ng crisis.
Anong bang sinabi ni Secretary Tugade sa crisis?
Q: [OFF MIC] Wala din.
SEC. PANELO: Iyon naman pala eh; kasi nga, paralysis ang iniisip namin kapag crisis.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Hi sir, good afternoon. May nabanggit po ba si Presidente about doon sa ‘challenge accepted’ ninyo po?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, hindi pa kami nag-uusap. Nag-usap kami kahapon, pero iba ang pinag-usapan namin.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: May balak po ba kayong mag-disguise?
SEC. PANELO: Bakit ka naman magdi-disguise?
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: I’m asking this Question kasi after po nung mass transportation—
SEC. PANELO: Alam mo, kahit na mag-disguise ka, kilala ka pa rin. Kasi palagi akong … kapag nasa ibang ano ako, kapag nasa mall, nagsusumbrero ako eh. Sumbrero at saka shades, ganoon pa rin, kilala ka pa rin eh.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Sorry sir, the reason I asked the Question—
SEC. PANELO: Kahit anong suot mo, kilala ka pa rin ng tao.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Kasi after ninyo pong magbanggit ng mga pahayag about mass transportation crisis, marami pong mga netizens iyong nagalit, iyong nagbanta na kapag nakita po kayo ay … ganoon, something about security. So wala po kayong fear about your security?
SEC. PANELO: Wala. Pareho lang kami ni Presidente – kung panahon mo na, panahon mo na.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: And then sir, after that—related pa rin naman po sa traffic. Sa tingin ninyo po ba ay napapanahon na iyong full implementation ng telecommuting o work from home? At dapat na itong ipatupad sa mga industriyang maaari itong ipatupad para po maibsan at makaiwas sa problema sa trapiko iyong, ilang sektor ng mga manggagawa?
SEC. PANELO: Ano iyon, tele ano?
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Telecommuting – work from home.
SEC. PANELO: Iyong batas, ‘di ba i-implement na natin iyon? Kaya nga may batas na, eh di i-implement na natin.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Hindi pa lahat po sir. Do you think it is timely to talaga pong—
SEC. PANELO: Since may batas, dapat i-implement. Whether it’s time or not eh batas iyon eh, i-enforce natin.
JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Sir, kung hindi ninyo po napag-usapan ni Presidente, it’s safe to say that you weren’t ordered by the President to take this challenge?
SEC. PANELO: No, ni hindi nga nabanggit eh. How can you make even an order if you don’t even know about it? Ang pinag-usapan namin – drugs.
JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Okay. So prior to your announcement yesterday, he is not aware that you’re going to take the challenge?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t know kung alam niya; hindi niya alam ‘no? Kung nanood siya ng news kagabi, nalaman niya na.
JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Okay. Tapos, sir you said that you won’t allow media coverage po doon sa pagsakay ninyo ng LRT. Will you be taking on a witness to prove na nag-commute nga po kayo or will you go on FB Live?
SEC. PANELO: Alam mo, ang teorya ko kasi, kasi gusto nga nila, ayaw kong i-media coverage kasi baka nga magkaroon ng spectacle pa iyan eh. Baka sabihin, nagpa-publicity ka lang. Iniisip ko, I’m sure may nakakakilala naman sa akin, kapag nakita nila ako doon baka may kukuha, surreptitiously, ‘di ba. Tapos ipu-post nila, ganoon na lang.
Q: [OFF MIC]
SEC. PANELO: I can take a selfie on my own, ‘di ba.
JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Sir, FB Live?
SEC. PANELO: Ano iyon? Hindi ko alam iyon.
Q: [OFF MIC]
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko rin alam iyong Facebook Live eh.
JULIE AURELIO/PDI: The reason I asked sir, siyempre we, of course, not just we but the public also wants to see iyong experience mo.
SEC. PANELO: Makikita siguro nila. I’m sure makikita ninyo. May makakakita noon. Kasi minsan nasa mall ako, may nag-post eh na naglalakad ako mag-isa. Sino bang nagpadala sa akin noon? Somebody from you sent that to me – si Henry yata eh.
JULIE AURELIO/PDI: So, sir, wala kayong companion tomorrow, no witness to prove na …
SEC. PANELO: Basta ako lang mag-isa. Maraming gustong sumama pero lahat tinanggihan ko.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, you mentioned kanina dahil walang paralysis, walang crisis. What about the economic implications of traffic? According to JICA, it’s 3.5 billion dollars lost every day because of traffic. You don’t consider that a factor in saying that the Philippines is already experiencing a crisis?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ba dati nang ganiyan iyan. Matagal na tayong may ganiyan eh. Wala pa si Presidente ganiyan na ang problema natin eh.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So it’s not a factor sir, in considering na malaki talaga ang problema natin, may krisis na nangyayari?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, talaga namang may problema tayo, kaya nga ginagawan nga ng paraan. That’s precisely why the President was asking for an emergency power from the very start.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So 3.5 billion dollars lost every day is not a reason to say that we are in crisis level, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Pinapaliwanag na nga natin paulit-ulit, matagal na tayong nandiyan sa problemang iyan. Pero huwag ninyong pagpilitan—kasi ang aking concept, siguro ganoon din si Secretary Tugade, kapag may paralysis ang transport, iyon ang crisis na talagang totoong crisis kasi hindi mo na magamit iyong means of transportation eh.
Now, with respect to crisis in loss of income – iyon, totoo iyon dahil waste of time nandiyan tayo sa kalsada, walang ginagawa.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, i-clarify ko lang: It’s 3.5 billion pesos not dollars pala. Sir, last time, si Spokesman Harry RoQue, he was criticized, he was bashed for doing a commute challenge then, pero ginawa niya iyon—
SEC. PANELO: Sino? Who?
Q: Si, Harry RoQue. Sec. Harry RoQue before na-bash siya because gumawa siya ng commute challenge pero hindi rush hour. So can you say na hindi ito mangyayari this time around, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Basta sabi ko nga eh, manood na lang kayo; wala nang maraming announcement. Sorry kung walang nag-post.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Sir, the Philippines fell eight notches in the latest World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report po. The Philippines is now at 64th spot out of 141 economies as we got poor scores on health and infrastructure – may we know what’s the Palace’s take on this po, sir?
SEC. PANELO: We will ask the economic managers to response to that.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Sir, wala pong immediate reaction iyong Palace?
SEC. PANELO: Turf nila iyan eh. I don’t want to preempt them, sila ang mga expert diyan.
ARRIANE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Hi sir. Sir, nabanggit ninyo po na nag-usap kayo ni President Duterte regarding drugs. Can you elaborate? Give us more details about it, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, kasi nasa Bacolod ako, maraming nagpunta sa akin, nagrereklamo on drugs. That’s why sinabi ko kay Presidente, maraming report dito, ganito, ganiyan. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Oo, kaya nga nandiyan na si ano eh, Espenido, iyan ang response ko diyan sa problema nila sa Bacolod.’
ARRIANE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Sir, na-touch ninyo po ba iyong subject ng ninja cops doon sa conversation ninyo?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi.
HANNAH SANCHO/DZAR: Sir, may Cabinet—?
SEC. PANELO: Tomorrow.
HANNAH SANCHO/DZAR: Mayroon po tayong ano sir, kung ano pong pag-uusapan po tomorrow?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa eh, bukas pa nila ilalabas iyon.
HANNAH SANCHO/DZAR: Pag-uusapan kaya sir, iyong isyu ni Albayalde, sir? Kung may desisyon na po iyong Pangulo?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam. I don’t know.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, nasubaybayan ninyo iyong developments ng Senate inQuiry kahapon? Iyong rebelasyon ni General Lacadin?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, nasa Bacolod ako, wala akong napanood.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Okay. So sinabi niya kasi, sir, sa rebelasyon niya na noong tinawagan siya ni then Pampanga Provincial Director Albayalde about the investigation of CIDG doon sa Pampanga drug raid, nagsabi raw itong si then Colonel Albayalde na ‘konti lang naman iyong nakuha o napunta sa akin diyan’. So, do you think makakabago ito sa posisyon ng Pangulo o pagtingin niya kay Albayalde? Iyon rebelasyon na parang pinapalabas ni General Lacadin na may tinanggap o may nakuha si Albayalde mula sa ninja cops?
SEC. PANELO: Iyong nabasa ko sa diyaryo, sabi niya hindi niya raw [alam] kung nagdyu-joke lang si General Albayalde. And at the same time, si General Albayalde yata ay nag-deny na rin eh, hindi totoo.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So mas pinapaniwalaan ninyo iyong pagde-deny?
SEC. PANELO: Wala akong pinapaniwalaan. Sinasabi ko lang sa inyo iyong nabasa ko sa diyaryo. Now, whether or not the President will consider it, we don’t know that.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So how do you view it, iyong ganoong rebelasyon?
SEC. PANELO: Nothing. I don’t view anything. Hindi ba sinabi natin na hayaan mo iyang Senado ang mag-imbestiga, magkaroon sila ng findings; hayaan mo si DILG Secretary mag-imbestiga and then magkaroon siya ng findings and recommendation, the President will act on them.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So as we speak, wala pang parang pasabi si Pangulo for Albayalde to resign?
SEC. PANELO: Wala – wala akong narinig.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: So clarification Sec: Despite the new revelations, you are maintaining that you will allow the Senate to—
SEC. PANELO: I’m not the one maintaining it. I’m just Quoting to you what the President said.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: No, Malacañang in general. I mean—
SEC. PANELO: No, when you say Malacañang, it’s the Office of the President. The Office of the President says through the President himself, I will wait for the findings and recommendations of DILG.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: Kaya nga, yeah. Ibig kung sabihin, iyong stance na iyon, iyong despite these new revelations, mananatili iyon na ‘Okay, tapusin ninyo muna iyong Senate, and then iyong DILG will step in to conduct its own—
SEC. PANELO: Unless there is a statement to the contrary, the presumption is it remains the same.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: Okay. So you’re still … iyong stance na ‘Okay, let Albayalde clear his name, iyong he deserves to be heard,’ ganoon pa rin iyong stance?
SEC. PANELO: Wala namang sinasabing bago si Presidente eh.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL STAR: Okay, despite the new claims, revelations?
SEC. PANELO: Basta wala pang sinasabi si Presidente.
Q: Good afternoon, sir. Sir, there’s news recently about Duterte inviting this Russian oil firm. He invited them to explore West Philippines – joint exploration. Sir, do you know any details regarding this?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa – wala pa.
MODERATOR: Maraming salamat, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Secretary Sal Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Thank you.
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SOURCE: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)