DAVILA: You saw her, you said two months ago.

SEC. PANELO: Yes, she came to the office. You know what I like in her, she is always thinking of how to uplift the status of life of the poor folks. She went to these places and then she even funded them. In fact, she came to my office, because she wanted the government to help her advocacy.

DAVILA: So, two months ago, just two months ago, she visited you.

SEC. PANELO: Because he wanted me to fly with her in these places, para makita ko yung mga lugar.

DAVILA: Now, let’s go back to her time during the Duterte administration. It was controversial, but then what would you say was her biggest legacy while serving in the Duterte Cabinet?

SEC. PANELO: She’s firstly protective of the environment; she really worked hard for that with passion, dedication and courage. Iyon ang Gina Lopez.

DAVILA: Would you say that in a way, she stood in, I mean stood in the same breath with President Duterte in terms of abuses coming from mining companies?

SEC. PANELO: Definitely. In fact, the President publicly supported her during the confirmation.

DAVILA: Now, what do you remember most, what do you think will the Cabinet remember most, when it comes to Gina Lopez?

SEC. PANELO: Iyon na nga, she is feisty. Talagang she really advocates environment protection sa Cabinet, sabi ko nga with passion talaga kaya hangang-hanga kami sa kanya.

DAVILA: I’m curious does President Duterte already know? I mean as early as 5 am you were already coming out—or at 6:00 am, you were already… you came out with a statement—

SEC. PANELO: I supposed he is awake by that time, kasi usually he sleeps at 6:00 o’clock, baka by this time alam niya na.

DAVILA: Okay, all right. So, anything else you’d like to say, I mean you did issue a statement, but before we go to a gap—

SEC. PANELO: Well, I’d like to express personally our family’s condolences to Gina Lopez, she is a good friend and colleague, she has a kind and generous heart. She had indefatigable spirit. We are going to miss her; personally I will miss her, she’s a very good friend.

DAVILA: I’m curious if you remember moments with Gina and the President. You weren’t Secretary yet at that time, you were still in the Presidential… you were not Spokesperson yet.

SEC. PANELO: Yes.

DAVILA: Yes, but would you remember moments of them together?

SEC. PANELO: Doon sa Cabinet kasi masaya kapag nandoon siya eh. Talagang with all the passion that one can muster, talagang ganoon siya, talagang bilib kami sa kanya eh.

(commercial break)

DAVILA: Sec. Sal, let’s discuss first the concerns of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The two POGO hubs are set to be in Clark and in Kawit, Cavite. The one in Cavite which is supposedly just a few meters away from an airbase; and in Clark is another concern. Will Malacañang ask that the hubs be relocated, can you even do that?

SEC. PANELO: First, I can understand the concern of Secretary Lorenzana, he is a military man. And the President and I were talking about it yesterday and he was saying that—you know, you don’t even have to be near any military camp if you want to gather intelligence. He said that – concerning the high-tech now – even if they are far away from China, if they want to spy us, they can. And in fact, all countries as he correctly said are spying with each other, natural lang iyon eh.

But whether or not ita-transfer, siguro it’s between PAGCOR – kasi parang project ng PAGCOR iyan – and the security officials ng ating bansa, sila ang mag-uusap.

DAVILA: Yeah, and I wanted to ask you, because the one in Kawit, Cavite for example, I mean, it’s a private property, it was Island Cove. So if that’s already been settled financially, will the government have power to let’s say demand a transfer of location of the hub?

SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman, when it concerns security, national security, puwede namang pumasok iyong police power. So puwede iyon kung talangang kailangan.

DAVILA: So, what you are saying is it’s PAGCOR who will determine, is that correct?

SEC. PANELO: I think PAGCOR and the security officials can meet and agree, para masagot natin iyong security concerns na binibigay ni Secretary Lorenzana.

DAVILA: What does National Security Adviser Esperon say about the hubs?

SEC. PANELO: I talked with him and he said, ‘actually, mabuti nga alam natin kung nasaan sila.’ What is important is we know where they are. But you—kasi kapag malapit lang sila, mababantayan mo sila; but at the same time puwede rin naman na mababantayan tayo. So, it works both ways. But then I think mas maganda iyong sinabi ni Presidente. Sabi ni Presidente, kahit malayo sila ng ilang milya, because of high-tech, they can spy with us if they want.

DAVILA: So, it is right to say President Duterte is not at all worried with the alleged security risk involved?

SEC. PANELO: He said yesterday na magaling tayo sa ating intelligence gathering, marami na tayong instrumento, we can do it also.

DAVILA: So, he is not worried with the increase of Chinese workers in the Philippines and the hubs, no?

SEC. PANELO: Given the logic of what they were saying, I don’t think he is that worried.

DAVILA: In terms of policy, there’s already been a concern on the rise of Chinese workers in the Philippines and with the development of POGO as an industry and then the hubs at a 135,000 we’re bound to have more. What is the policy of Malacañang when it comes to this?

SEC. PANELO: Well, right now, it’s not illegal eh. Kaya iyon ang problema, China is saying ihinto natin, pero hindi naman illegal sa atin iyan eh. So, I guess, we have to do what is being done now, we are allowing it.

DAVILA: What is it about POGO that the President wants it to stay other than it being a revenue generating measure?

SEC. PANELO: That’s very important, we need money, revenue, that’s legitimate revenue making project. We are not worried about the security that they are posing to us. Eh, kaya naman daw natin sabi ni Presidente na malaman kung ano ang gusto nilang gawin sa atin.

DAVILA: Okay, the latest tussle between you and Senator Ping Lacson. Let’s discuss that first, all right. There are fears of the influx of Chinese workers working in POGOs. And I had Andrea Doming0 here last week, who actually said the same thing. How would the Filipino’s feel if the Chinese had the same fears about OFWs and China. There are I think, is it 200 or 300,000 Filipinos working in China and then you have the Chinese Ambassador saying how do you feel if you know Filipino’s are also suspected of spying. All right, let’s start with this: how did that text exchange happened?

SEC. PANELO: I think that was a reaction of Ambassador Zhao to Secretary Lorenzana’s statement.

DAVILA: And he sent it to you?

SEC. PANELO: Yeah, he sent it to me and he said if I can share it to him. I felt it is a duty for me to share it to the public when the reporters asked me about that particular incident. I think that’s the duty of my office to tell the Filipino people especially because it concerns our OFWs, anything that concerns them definitely is a concern of the Office of the President.

DAVILA: And how did that exchange end with the Ambassador?

SEC. PANELO: I said yes, I will.

DAVILA: Raise it?

SEC. PANELO: I will forward it.

DAVILA: Ah, so you forwarded his message to Secretary Lorenzana?

SEC. PANELO: Yes.

DAVILA: They are not in touch?

SEC. PANELO: No.

DAVILA: Okay. Now you and Senator Ping Lacson, where you the Chinese Spokesperson or the Palace Spokesperson, all right?

SEC. PANELO: Well, as I said there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact that’s a duty on my part to say whatever information I receive, especially because this is coming from the Ambassador and he is an authorized official of the Chinese government and any position he makes publicly… and it’s public, kasi hindi lang sa akin, pinapapasa niya pa nga sa iba eh. That means, that’s the official position of the Chinese government and I have to respond to that.

DAVILA: But then, I think overall what’s important is the policy of Malacañang when it comes to Chinese businesses generally in the Philippines, given that here seems to be a distrust with China because of how they have been behaving in the West Philippine Sea. Let’s start first, I know that the President will be meeting President Xi later of this month and of course you will be there. What is on the agenda?

SEC. PANELO: Well, yesterday he repeated to me that he will raise the issue of arbitral ruling and other irritants that have been present lately, hindi ba iyong—

DAVILA: Yeah, the five ships that passed Sibuto Strait.

SEC. PANELO: Yeah. So in other words, lahat na—of course that’s the call of the President whatever issues he wants to raise. And I feel that since we are supposed to be friends, any issue can be discussed and threshed out; we agree on things that we can and we can settle of whatever differences that we have. That’s precisely… iyon ang trabaho ng mechanism ng negotiation.

DAVILA: Does the President feel that China has abused his goodwill?

SEC. PANELO: Wala namang sinabi si Presidente. But he precisely wants to raise those issues para malaman.

DAVILA: How does the President already feel with these, the presence of these warships without seeking Philippine permission. How does—had he voiced out how he felt?

SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang sinasabi doon, but I think since the Secretary of Foreign Affairs has already filed diplomatic protest, iyon ang posisyon ng gobyerno – our protesting over that.

DAVILA: But does the President ever say something casually like, di ko maintindIhan bakit ginagawa—I mean, you know, I wanna know—

SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman, gaya ng sinabi niya, I have to raise these issues, para malaman ko na kung ano talaga ang posisyon—

DAVILA: So, that’s one; what else would he be raising?

SEC. PANELO: Siguro anything that concerns—

DAVILA: What about POGO, Chinese workers, would be he raising that?

SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang binanggit sa akin eh.

DAVILA: Walang ganoong?

SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang binanggit sa akin.

DAVILA: Okay. What is the stand of Malacañang when it comes to illegal Chinese workers, visa situation—

SEC. PANELO: Well, definitely any violation by any foreign national will have to subjected to immigration laws.

DAVILA: Okay. Chairperson Andrea Domingo said—because right now, you did not stop the visa upon arrival, you announced one time it would continue.

SEC. PANELO: Kasi hindi naman pala iyon one day, parang merong ten days vetting eh. Hindi naman one day iyan.

DAVILA: But then what happens with OFWs is you are apply for the job ahead of time before you go to the country. And Andrea Domingo says that maybe a good idea as well. In other words, it should be a different kind of visa, the application itself from the country of origin.

SEC. PANELO: Eh siguro pag-usapan na lang iyan between the DFA and the Chinese government.

DAVILA: Okay. So Malacañang has no fears whatsoever with the rise or the increase in number of Chinese workers in the Philippines?

SEC. PANELO: Basta ba legitimate iyong pagdating nila rito eh.

DAVILA: Are you doing any kind of steps to actually see and check if the positions held by Chinese workers are really post that Filipinos are not able to do, are you doing some kind of check and balance?

SEC. PANELO: I think the Secretary of Labor is no top of that. Teritoryo niya iyon eh.

DAVILA: Has the President changed in terms of his tone when dealing with China?

SEC. PANELO: Well he said he will raise those issues, right? So ibig sabihin, hindi ba, he promises that there will be a time when I’m going to raise this and this is the time. So, if you consider that as a change tone, then theirs is a change. But to me, there is none. You know why, kasi from the very start sinasabi niya naman eh, ‘right now, let’s talk about what things we can agree on. We’re supposed to be neighbors, were friends, pag-usapan natin. But I will raise that at the proper time.’

DAVILA: Will the President want a Code of Conduct—

SEC. PANELO: Oh definitely. He said that, nga pala, sabi niya part of the arbitral ruling, he will pursue iyong Code of Conduct, kasi importante iyan eh; that he will raise that definitely sabi niya.

DAVILA: Okay, so that’s one. So, the arbitral ruling; a Code of Conduct—Is it a Code of Conduct in terms of passage, Secretary, or even a Code of Conduct when it comes to fishing in Scarborough Shoal?

SEC. PANELO: Ah hindi ko alam portion na iyon.

DAVILA: Will the President raise the fact that Filipinos are still not allowed to fish inside the shoal itself?

SEC. PANELO: Siguro kasama iyon sa mga pag-uusapan nila… most likely, kasi sabi niya, ire-raise niya iyong mga irritants eh.

DAVILA: I’m curious, is the President taking with him when he raises all these issues, I mean expert on actually what to raise with China?

SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala siyang binanggit. I think the President is an expert, he knows the kind of issues he will raise, he knows the position of this country and he will pursue it.

DAVILA: Will the President raise the Reed Bank incident, were supposedly a Chinese vessel had left 22 Filipino fishermen to drown after hitting the boat?

SEC. PANELO: Most likely—I think he will be asking ano na ba ang development doon, kasi di ba nagkaroon na ng usapan iyong dalawang sides.

DAVILA: Okay, will the President discuss the possibility of joint exploration—

SEC. PANELO: Oh definitely. He mentioned that, that he will raise that issue on joint exploration 60/40.

DAVILA: Because you remember during the SONA, the President brought up that he told President Xi that you know I want to explore in our Philippine waters and supposedly President Xi said there’s a problem there or that’s a conflict. So, will the President do it even if China says ‘no, we don’t agree 60/40,’ that’s where I’m curious.

SEC. PANELO: I think the 60/40 came from them eh, parang sa kanila nanggaling iyon.

DAVILA: 60 is ours, 4o is theirs.

SEC. PANELO: Yes. In fact the Ambassador, di ba he made a statement that they will not ask share more than… di ba, what the Philippines want.

DAVILA: Actually, I’m realizing that the President’s ironed it out. So the arbitral ruling is one; he said the Code of Conduct is two; the joint exploration is 3.

SEC. PANELO: Yes, iyan ang major concerns. Iyong other issues nasa kanya kung he raise it or not.

SEC. PANELO: Then POGO was not mentioned; but the Reed Bank incident you said maybe but then the top three are essentially that he told you.

SEC. PANELO: Yes.

DAVILA: Code of Conduct, arbitral ruling and also joint exploration.

SEC. PANELO: The joint exploration.

DAVILA: In bringing up the arbitral ruling, what does the President expect to achieve? Is he going to say now that the arbitral ruling is clear that this two hundred nautical miles off the shore is the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines?

SEC. PANELO: I cannot second guess how he will do it—

DAVILA: Yes, yes.

SEC. PANELO: But, I think he will raise it definitely. Maybe after the one on one talk he will tell us exactly what transpired.

DAVILA: Okay. Pag-asa Island – I know that the repairs are ongoing?

SEC. PANELO: Yes.

DAVILA: Right now? Is there an update there? What does the President want to do with Pag-asa?

SEC. PANELO: ‘Di ba sabi ni Secretary Lorenzana ay parang ia-upgrade nila ‘yung—

DAVILA: Oo.

SEC. PANELO: Installation doon. I think it’s ongoing.

DAVILA: Okay. Fuga Island, I don’t know if this has reached the President’s table already. It’s supposed to be there are rumors of a Chinese company wanting to buy or get into Fuga Island and then it’s been said to be also a historical site of the jump-off point of soldiers during World War 2 and also a strategic marine post. Does the President have opinion on Fuga Island already?

SEC. PANELO: I don’t know if it has reached him. Well, wala—

DAVILA: Wala pa naman?

SEC. PANELO: Wala pa siyang binabanggit sa akin.

DAVILA: Oo. In terms of Subic, has that reached the President wherein a Chinese company is supposedly wants to develop in Grande Island which is at the mouth of Subic?

SEC. PANELO: Wala pa siyang binabanggit.

DAVILA: Oo.

SEC. PANELO: But siguro ‘yung mga investment ng Chinese dito, okay naman para sa atin ‘yun ha. Except, gaya nga lang ang sinasabi ni Secretary Lorenzana there may be some potential harm in the security aspect. Di tingnan natin.

DAVILA: Okay. Alright! Now, moving on to another topic. The lifting of Small Town Lottery, alright? Is—does the President, has he set a deadline of some kind on when it will happen?

SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang sinabi except during the speech doon sa PMA. Sabi niya, “If you can convince me that there will be no corruption, I will lift it.”

DAVILA: Okay. Sandra Cam was here and she named the President’s appointee and also one of his closest friends, retired General Balutan as the mastermind in the corruption with STL. From eighteen compliant STLs, it’s supposedly approved thirty plus more that were non compliant, not remitting well with the government. Ano ang plano ng Malacanang or even the President with these retired military officials?

SEC. PANELO: But we already stated I think our position there. If someone has evidence to back him up or her on this, they should file. They should file and let the law take its course.

DAVILA: Is it true that a few days ago… I mean, my source tells me that the STL operators were invited to Malacanang?

SEC. PANELO: No. There was—there were some STL operators wanting to volunteer information.

DAVILA: Okay.

SEC. PANELO: On what they know about corruption and what they would suggest in order to curb corruption.

DAVILA: Okay.

SEC. PANELO: That is—

DAVILA: So, ilan sila na nagpunta ng Malacanang?

SEC. PANELO: Wala. Wala ang—ang alam ko dalawa ang nag-volunteer.

DAVILA: Nag-volunteer pero they did not go to Malacanang?

SEC. PANELO: Nagpunta sa opisina ko.

DAVILA: Ayun! Sa office n’yo. Alright! So, the two volunteer—

SEC. PANELO: Pero hindi natuloy ‘yung isa kasi supposed to be si PCSO Chair Garma dapat mag-meet sila sa opisina ko but mahaba yata meeting niya with another public official kaya hindi natuloy. So, ni-reset na lang.

DAVILA: Ah, hindi natuloy. Ah, okay. So, it’s not true. ‘Cause the talks were that you had STL operators in Malacanang. So, the story is: two volunteered, they were supposed to see you and then—

SEC. PANELO: They came to my office.

DAVILA: They came.

SEC. PANELO: We waited for PCSO Chair Garma pero mayroon pa siyang ibang meeting.

DAVILA: So, who were the two STL operators?

SEC. PANELO: I don’t think I’m at liberty to divulge.

DAVILA: Why not? It’s meant to be transparent.

SEC. PANELO: Hindi, dahil dapat sila na lang mag-usap.

DAVILA: Dapat—what—

SEC. PANELO: At saka I’m not even sure of the name na eh.

DAVILA: Oo. Really? Two STL operators went to your office.

SEC. PANELO: Yeah… Ang alam ko Mr. Santos ang apelyido.

DAVILA: One is Santos. Were they compliant?

SEC. PANELO: Yes.

DAVILA: They were the compliant ones.

SEC. PANELO: Sabi nila they are compliant.

DAVILA: Sila ‘yung compliant. Do you remember some of the suggestions?

SEC. PANELO: Wala, kasi kailangan si PCSO Chair ang kausap nila, hindi ako.

DAVILA: Okay. Sandra… Well, Sandra Cam suggested that – given that STL is essentially gambling – that it be under PAGCOR or the Games and Amusement Board and I think Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has the same idea more or less, no. I’m curious, is the President open to moving STL to PAGCOR or the GAB?

SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang binabanggit.

DAVILA: Not yet. So, clearly reviving STL doesn’t seem to be far of President Duterte’s priorities as of now.

SEC. PANELO: Wala, basta sinabi niya ‘pag wala—basta walang corruption i-revive niya kaagad, i-resurrect niya kaagad.

DAVILA: Okay. Next, I know that the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating two Cabinet members?

SEC. PANELO: I asked the President about it, sabi niya, “I don’t know—”

DAVILA: You don’t know.

SEC. PANELO: —who. Sabi niya hindi niya alam daw kung sino. Kasi naman there is—that’s supposed to be their job, ‘di ba?

DAVILA: Yeah.

SEC. PANELO: So, when they finally send their report and recommendation, that’s the time the President will know. Kasi the President does not interfere nor intrude in any activity of any of the offices or agencies.

DAVILA: So, you’re saying that he really does not know who the two Cabinet members are that are being investigated?

SEC. PANELO: That’s what he said and I agree, eh kasi hindi naman talagang nakikialam eh. Kung dumating ‘yung final report saka niya malalaman.

DAVILA: That’s quite interesting. Alright, next! Amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007. I know you’ve been asked about this. And what kind of amendments is Malacanang willing to do?

SEC. PANELO: With respect doon sa—

DAVILA: Wiretapping.

SEC. PANELO: Wiretapping, ‘yun ang alam ko.

DAVILA: Okay.

SEC. PANELO: Okay naman ‘yun.

DAVILA: That you want it extended to a three-month period?

SEC. PANELO: Yeah, because it’s difficult when you wiretap tapos you want to prosecute. Kailangan may ebidensiya eh. It takes time eh. Kung thirty days lang, kulang.

DAVILA: Ah, you want it longer than 30-days.

SEC. PANELO: Oo.

DAVILA: Okay, but then ano—what is the boundary or the requirement before someone is legally wiretapped, are you also discussing that?

SEC. PANELO: Hindi, nasa Kongreso iyon, they have to set certain guidelines kung kelan puwede at kelan hindi. The law will tell you.

DAVILA: Will this be a priority of President Duterte?

SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang sinabing priority. But I guess the lawmakers know what they are going to do with that given the situation.

DAVILA: Okay, Secretary Lorenzana also wanted that suspects…

SEC. PANELO: To be detained longer.

DAVILA: Yes. Detained longer, instead of 60-days to 90-days.

SEC. PANELO: Alam mo kasi, gaya ng sinabi ko kanina, it takes time to build a case against a particular individual.

DAVILA: The 90-days is long though.

SEC. PANELO: Pero pag hindi mo pa nakukuha iyong mga ebidensiya mo, ire-release mo iyan, pag ni-release no iyan di back to their work.

DAVILA: Okay, but what is the precursor, what is pushing the administration to actually tighten or amend the Human Security Act of 2007. Do you feel it’s not effective enough today?

SEC. PANELO: Kasi ang kaliwa, iyong left, nagkaroon sila ng massive recruitment eh, marami silang nakuhang mga estudyante. We have to make a stop to that.

DAVILA: And you believe it’s been proven, the recruitment?

SEC. PANELO: Well, from the complaints of the parents themselves, they are saying that suddenly iyong mga anak nila hindi na bumabalik, di ba nakita rin natin iyong isa na lumabas, hindi naman daw siya nawawala, kumbaga sumali siya. Ibig sabihin effective iyong organization, recruiting student.

DAVILA: Okay. Another thing is the SOGIE Bill [Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality]. You did say the President supports the SOGIE Bill?

SEC. PANELO: Definitely, he is very supportive of that.

DAVILA: So, the question now is after what happened to that Gretchen Diez, that incident, is the Lower House has passed it before, it’s already been refiled and maybe the chances of passing are strong as it was in the past. But in the Senate, the debates in the Senate, I mean reigned from that’s crazy to you know, out of this world at time. So the question is will the President involve himself and ask that the SOGIE bill be passed?

SEC. PANELO: He didn’t say that, pero ang sinasabi niya, dapat meron ng third restroom for them.

DAVILA: Sinabi niya sa iyo?

SEC. PANELO: Sinabi niya, pinag-usapan namin iyon kahapon.

DAVILA: Can you share that, I mean so that—

SEC. PANELO: Tama naman iyon, ako I agree na kailangan talaga may third restroom for them para wala nang problema di ba, that will solve everything. Kasi papasok ka sa female, siyempre hindi rin komportable iyong mga babae, alam nilang lalaki pala iyon; ganundin sa kabila, di ba. So the best is you have a third restroom for them, di wala nang problema.

DAVILA: So, does the President want that mandated, a third restroom.

SEC. PANELO: He agrees with that concept.

DAVILA: Now, when it comes to the SOGIE Bill, this is the equality bill that they have been fighting for, the LGBTQ community for a long time. Does the President want this passed? It makes a difference cause it’s so popular.

SEC. PANELO: Given the way he says that dapat merong third, di logically suportado niya iyon. Lalo pa sinabi niya, dapat talaga all should be equal, lahat kailangan may rights.

DAVILA: The National Security of Tenure Act he vetoed, right?

SEC. PANELO: Hmmm.

DAVILA: Which was a surprise of course to many, but then you also have employers that felt that it wasn’t doable. What version is Malacañang open to?

SEC. PANELO: The Secretary of Labor, I think has submitted a draft. But we must remember Karen na itong security of tenure never nangyari ito sa previous administration; it was only during the administration of President Duterte na nag-isyu siya ng executive order. In fact, hundreds of thousands of employees became regular because of that executive order. So hindi naman totoo iyong sasabihin ng mga nasa labor na nakalimutan na ni Presidente. Sila ang nakalimot na because of him, hundreds of thousands ang na-regularize nga eh. Pero nung makita niya iyong bill na baka naman makasira, ang magiging resulta niyan Karen kapag pinasa mo iyon maraming magsasara, kasi hindi naman lahat ng companies kaya iyon eh. Kaya ang gusto ni Presidente ibalansehin natin.

DAVILA: Okay, ibalanse siya.

SEC. PANELO: I-balance lang.

DAVILA: How does the President defined and view endo? I mean, the basic description of endo is 5-5-5. But then we do know that endo can take on so many forms. When he promised that he will end endo, what did he actually—what does he believe now to be endo, which he wants to end?

SEC. PANELO: Ang gusto niya talaga ma-regularize ang mga empleyado kung ang ginagawa nila ay germane o konektado doon sa negosyo ng isang company, iyon ang talagang gusto niya. Kasi ang nangyayari, after 6 months probation, hindi na ulit maha-hire.

DAVILA: But then now kasi there are contract talents or contract workers wherein you are under contract for a year or two years, even if it’s germane to the company. Pag iyon ba, do you define that as endo?

SEC. PANELO: I think I will leave it to the Secretary of Labor, kasi meron silang draft eh. Sinabmit nila sa Kongreso.

DAVILA: All right, well, it’s the start of the week. What are the priorities of the President Duterte this week?

SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa nakita iyong schedule, but mukhang meron siyang mga activities. Kasi last time, this last week, sinasabi ng media, ba’t parang invisible si Presidente.

DAVILA: Oo nga.

SEC. PANELO: But actually hindi, ang dami niyang trabaho eh, ang dami siyang paper works, tapos ang daming private meetings, ang daming courtesy calls, madami siyang pinupuntahan din eh.

DAVILA: Well on that note, Secretary Sal Panelo, thank you so much for coming.

SEC. PANELO: Thank you.

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SOURCE: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)