SEC. PANELO: Good afternoon. First, I’d like to read Memorandum Circular No. 65. Pursuant to Proclamation No. 60, has declared the last week of September of every year as Family Week, in order to afford government workers like you more time to spend with their families and girlfriends, the first day of the 27th National Family Week Celebration. Work in government offices in the Executive Branch on September 23, 2019 is hereby suspended from 3:00 pm in the afternoon onwards.
Also, I remember I read a directive from the Supreme Court Chief Justice that Courts will be also working half day today.
And by the way, thank you everybody for your advance birthday greetings. One culprit announced it and then seconded by your President and other anchors followed suit and now I’m deluged with happy birthday greetings. Even I think PRRD mistook it. Ano? Bakit ba kayo interesado, kapag nagpadala ako ng lechon sa inyo, ‘yun na iyon.
Advance nga, advance thank you for your advance birthday greeting. Okay, I’m ready.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Sir, clarification lang. So 3 PM all government workers, tapos suspended iyong work nila ng 3 PM?
SEC. PANELO: Yes, at 3 PM. Executive branch lang. Siyempre, sa executive lang. Pero sa Supreme Court ano na iyan ha.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: So, executive lang, sir. So, Halimbawa.
SEC. PANELO: Iyong memorandum.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: So halimbawa teacher ka, puwede?
SEC. PANELO: Iyong alin?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Tama, executive iyon eh. So iyong legislative, call nila iyon and then the Supreme Court, do you have information?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, meron na, nabasa ko na eh na half day lang sila ngayon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Congress, wala pa, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa. Bakit ang Congress naman usually wala naman iyong mga Congressman doon eh. Siguro mga staff.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Classes daw sir?
SEC. PANELO: Walang sinasabi sa classes.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Classes hindi?
Q: Eh papano iyong public school, sir, kung alas-tres pa di wala na silang klase?
SEC. PANELO: Kasama iyon sa executive branch, iyong mga teachers? Pero teka muna merong colatilla eh.
Basahin ko ang colatilla: However, those agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services preparedness response to disasters and calamities and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services. The suspension of work in other branches of government and independent commission of bodies is left to the sound discretion of their respective heads/management.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Sir, iyong mga bata nga, may mga pasok pa rin sila?
SEC. PANELO: Aba eh di ba, basic service iyong teaching.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Hindi sir emergency iyong mga basic services.
SEC. PANELO: Ano?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: So, may pasok iyong mga kids. So ito lang iyong mga nasa—
SEC. PANELO: Yan ang hindi ko alam, kung kasama eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Ano talaga?
SEC. PANELO: Nasa school authorities na iyon, kung gusto nila.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Oo nga paano iyon.
SEC. PANELO: Oh eh di iyong head ng public schools pa rin ang magde-decide.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: School under ng DepEd, DepEd walang pasok—
SEC. PANELO: Pero meron ngang colatilla eh—bakit vital iyong education ha, pareho rin iyon ng health. Di ba, vital eh.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, may report ang NICA na may 31 radio broadcasters daw po ang konektado sa CPP-NPA, ano po iyong reaksyon ng Palasyo rito?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa akong report doon ah. I will ask ano—we have to validate that from Secretary Esperon. Wala pa akong… matagal kaming nag-uusap ni Presidente kagabi, wala naman siyang binabanggit doon. Baka hindi niya pa… na kakatangap ng memo.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Policy po ba ng gobyerno na mag-red tag ng mediamen?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman. Eh hindi ba, ever since si Presidente sinasabi, you are all free to criticize this government.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: So hihingan n’yo po ng report iyong NICA?
SEC. PANELO: I will ask Secretary Esperon.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Sir, can you clarify once and for all itong memorandum ordering government departments to suspend negotiations for and signing of loan and grant agreements with countries that supported the Iceland resolution. Initially you said, hindi and now I understand—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, actually—kasi iyong tanong ninyo sa akin lahat is kung nag-isyu si Presidente. So, I asked the President, eh ang sabi niya, “hindi.” But nung pinakitaan ng memo na may sign siya, di tinanung ko uli siya, oh naalala niya na meron nga. Sabi ko do you still maintain, of course sabi niya, iyon. And he explained to me why he feels that the Iceland resolution is not only offensive but it’s also – to him ha – but also offensive to this country. Because that Iceland resolution presupposes that were not doing anything about the complaints, about abuses; which is not true. We have been prosecuting. In fact, every death arising from police operations on drugs is automatically subject to administrative and criminal prosecution. Because the SOP there is when there is death arising from any raid involving the police immediately meron kaagad, they are subjected to administrative and criminal prosecution.
But ang problema kasi, may mga nagrereklamo ng police abuse, pero hindi sila nagpa-file formally, kung mag-file naman wala namang ebidensiya, pero kapag meron inihahain. Iyon ang nagiging problema eh.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Sir, has Malacañang assess the possible impact of this memo on a possible projects that could come from this country?
SEC. PANELO: It will not dramatically, even slightly I think impact on our economy. For one, the loans and agreements that are currently in existence are being implemented. So it will not affect. Number two, out of the 18 countries involved, according to Secretary Dominguez, it’s only UK has an offer of 21 million Euros as loan I think with respect to this build, build, build project ni Presidente. But you know, there are other bilateral partners and institution and other countries outside of the eighteen offering the same and no better rates than this particular country offering. Madaling sabi, walang epekto sa atin.
Ang gusto ni Presidenteng sabihin sa inyong lahat, he cannot comprehend what Iceland is so concerned about the alleged brutal slaying of suspected criminals which occur because the lives of those people who are enforcing the law are endangered and yet it has a law that allows killing, murdering unborn children, unborn babies aged 6 months and below. That’s why he said, ‘hindi pupuwede ito. They are imposing their culture to us, pero tingnan mo ang ginagawa nila.’ Kaya sabi niya, ‘tell them kaya ako nagmumura, that’s why I curse, talagang sinasadya ko dahil galit ako sa ginagawa nila sa atin at sa ating bansa. Papaimbestigahan tayo, as if kung makapagsalita sila eh, sila nga ang mga murderers’… dumarating, lumalabas sila nga iyon. Pero tayo, we do our job. We prosecute. But give us evidence.
Then he said last night, who will they explain, like I’ve been asking you people how would you explain 80 plus deaths of our policeman. How will you explain 800 plus serious injuries involving policemen who serves warrants for the arrest of suspected persons connected with drugs. And the President said how will they explain for instance that many policemen died arising out the service of warrant in Marawi that precipitated the war in Marawi. Ilang daang sundalo ang namatay natin noon, sige nga, sabi niya. Eh puro drug-related iyon eh.
SEC. PANELO: Now, sabi niya – yun din ang sinasabi ko – show us this twenty – twenty thousand, sixty thousand deaths. Give us the dates, the names of the people, those who abuse the circumstances surrounding them. Wala naman silang maipakita kahit na isa; and yet, we in the government show on television, PTV – 4, every day ‘yung mga deaths, injuries na mga police raids. In other words, ‘yung almost six thousand deaths arising from police raids, police operations against the drug-involved persons are recorded, we know the dates when they happened, the people involved, the police officers who conducted the raid, the suspects and the circumstances surrounding them. We have the records pero sila wala.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Sir, just—I’m reading the list of eighteen countries just to be clear. Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, walang—at the time the memo was issued, there was no ongoing negotiations that was affected or suspended except doon sa binanggit na UK?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, wala.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: ‘Yun lang?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, ‘yun ang sinabi ni Secretary Dominuez.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Sir, I’m wondering why did the Pres—how can the President forget such an order—
SEC. PANELO: Ikaw naman—
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: —considering it’s—
SEC. PANELO: —as if naman this President is doing nothing.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: No, no, I’m just asking. Did he forget? Nakalimutan niya?
SEC. PANELO: No—exactly. Kumbaga temporary lang ‘yun. Nung mapakita ‘yung memo, “Oo nga, I direct—tell them, I directed the Executive Secretary at the height of that Iceland resolution.”
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Okay.
SEC. PANELO: “And I’m maintaining that,” sabi niya. Tapos… alam mo naman si Presidente ang haba niya magkuwento, ang tagal namin. In fact, doon sa event nagkukuwentuhan kami. Kagabi, ‘yun na naman, pauwi na ako ganun pa rin ang kaniyang line.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Thank you, sir.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, sir, clarification. ‘Yung existing na mga loans hindi ‘yun maaapektuhan, ‘no?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, kasi in-implement na.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Alright. Kasi ‘yung mga Austria dito—
SEC. PANELO: Basahin ko sa inyo ‘yung text ni Secretary Sonny para mas lalong klaro.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay.
SEC. PANELO: In fact, kasama ‘yun sa statement kong inire-release.
MPC: [off mic] (Unclear)
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, ngayon. Ngayon pero mauna na kayo.
MPC: [off mic] (Unclear)
SEC. PANELO: Sonny. Secretary Sonny Dominuez. Kasi ang dami ring nagtatanong sa kaniya. Sabi niya, “My response.” So, I’m adopting his response.
MPC: [off mic] (Unclear)
SEC. PANELO: Here: The suspension of talks with the countries which voted in favor of the UNHRC resolution will not have a significant impact on the country. First, it will not affect existing grants and loans if any because they’re already being implemented.
Number two: All proposed engagements with said countries except for one small project loan in the amount of twenty-one million euros are technical assistance grants and hence, will not significantly affect the infrastructure program of the government.
In any case, he says, multilateral development financial institutions and other bilateral partners have signified their intention to finance said twenty-one million euros; and finally, the rates offered by said countries if ever, are no better than the rates already offered by multilateral development financial institutions and bilateral development partners.
And for your information, total existing grants on record is 377.43 million dollars broken down as: Australia – $228.89; Italy – $4.71; Spain – $0.57; France – $6.72; Germany – $15.31. All of these will not be affected.
Total pipeline which will be affected: France – value to be determined with Metro Manila BRT Project valued at twenty-one million euro; Germany – around $46.58 million; Spain – valued at 0.20-M.
Iyon,’ yan ang complete.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: (Unclear)
SEC. PANELO: Ang alin? Spain, valued at 0.20. Point two-zero lang.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: (Unclear)
SEC. PANELO: ‘Di twenty.
ROSE COZ/UNTV: Hi, sir. Good afternoon po.
SEC. PANELO: Rose!
ROSE COZ/UNTV: Sir, clarify lang po. Effective until now’ yun pong directive na stop ang lahat ng—
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
ROSE COZ/UNTV: And it will be implemented until the term of the President ends?
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
ROSE COZ/UNTV: Will this be the policy of the Duterte Administration to stop negotiating with countries that criticize the anti-drug war of the Administration?
SEC. PANELO: ‘Yung—Limited lang ‘yun doon sa Iceland resolution.
ROSE COZ/UNTV: Ano po ang reaction ng Palace regarding sa statement ni Congressman Rufus Rodriguez na kneejerk reaction lang daw po ng Palace ito?
SEC. PANELO: Iyon na nga ang sagot ko. Hindi ba binasa ko na nga ‘yung response ng ano. ‘Yun na ang response namin na hindi totoo ‘yun; ang nag-knee-kneejerk siya, sila. ‘Yun ang kneejerk. They don’t know the facts, they don’t even know kung mayroong existing loans. Ayan, we presented to you.
ROSE COZ/UNTV: Okay, thank you po.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, I’m looking at the website of the Australia – Australian Aid at nakasulat dito: Overview of Australia’s Aid Program to the Philippines 2019 to 2020, total Australian ODA estimate. So 2019 to 2020 – it’s 79.7 million US dollars or Australian dollars, I’m not sure. So, anong ibig sabihin nito, sir, will this be scrapped already? Kasi hindi siya kasama doon sa binanggit n’yo doon kanina.
SEC. PANELO: Eh, ano ba nakalagay diyan? Is that being offered to us—
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Yes. It’s ODA estimate, sir, for 2019 to 2020
SEC. PANELO: Ano ‘yan? Technical assistance ba ‘yan? Kasi kung technical assistance, walang problema ang mga technical assistance, nandiyan pa rin ‘yan. Ang sinasabi namin, ‘yung loans and grants. Pero with respect to technical assistance, okay ‘yan. Hindi apektado ‘yan.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: ODA is a kind of loan din, sir, ‘di ba?
SEC. PANELO: Alin? Ano?
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: ODA is a loan, ‘di ba?
SEC. PANELO: Kung loan, eh ‘di apektado ‘yan. Pero hindi… hindi ‘yan kasama dun baka—
MPC: [off mic] (Unclear)
SEC. PANELO: Baka naman existing na ‘yan?
MPC: [off mic] Undergoing negotiation…
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa eh ‘di suspendido ‘yan.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So, it’s an estimate for 2019 to 2020, already an estimate, so, malamang hindi pa rin po ito plantsado because it’s just an estimate.
SEC. PANELO: Kaya nga… hindi kasama ‘yan. Basta ayaw ni Presidenteng makipag-negotiate doon sa mga bumoto sa Iceland.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Okay, sir. Sir, nabanggit n’yo din kanina ‘yung sa France. May proposed sila na project to help Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit – twenty-one million euros, tama po ba? So, considering sir ‘yung bigat ng traffic sa EDSA, don’t you think twenty-one million euros to set-up a BRT Project in Metro Manila is not a significant assistance?
SEC. PANELO: Wala ‘yun. Hindi ba—have you read about Ramon Ang’s proposal, iyong elevated? I was talking to him last night, ang ganda ng proposal niya.
MPC: [off mic] Tuloy ba iyon?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, tuloy ‘yun. Three—magkano ‘yun? Tinanong ko siya how much is that. Three billion US dollars, sabi niya. In less than two years, gawa ‘yan. Tapos ipinakita niya sa akin sa ano yata, sa Jakarta. Ipinakita niya sa akin ‘yung mga ginawa nila doon.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Well, I don’t think sir that’s an either/or, that’s part of the efforts sir to alleviate traffic. So, we can’t really say na ‘etong elevated highway in Metro Manila would solve EDSA traffic—
SEC. PANELO: It will solve. Definitely, it will solve. How can it not be solved kung magkano—ilan? Six lanes? Eight lanes? Mayroon kang eight-lanes na elevated na highway tapos mayroon ka pa rin sa baba? Bakit naman hindi?
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So, ibig sabihin sir, we don’t need other projects to solve traffic in Metro Manila because we have that one big project?
SEC. PANELO: How’s that again?
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: You’re saying—‘yung sa BRT, sir? You are saying na we can forego this project.
SEC. PANELO: Of course. Kung mayroon ngang itong kina Ramon Ang eh hindi hindi naman tayo mag—
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Okay, sir. Thank you.
CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: Sir, just in case, like if ever other countries would also criticize the government on its war against drugs, are we expecting the same policy na the government would reject whatever assistance they would offer us? Like for instance … although it’s improbable, like for instance Japan, it would criticize the war on drugs.
SEC. PANELO: As you said, it’s improbable. Supported nga tayo eh.
CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: How about the other countries?
SEC. PANELO: Kapag nangyari iyon, I’ll respond to you. Puro ispekulasyon lang iyon eh.
CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: So in the meantime, naka-focus lang siya doon—
SEC. PANELO: Doon lang tayo sa Iceland resolution, those who voted in favor.
CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: Sir, speaking of Japan, iyong tinext ko sa inyo the other day na did you ask the President already if he will attend the ceremonial—
SEC. PANELO: Yes. He said, he has so many works to do. He might be just sending somebody there.
CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: Sino po iyong kinu-consider niya?
SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang sinabi.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, if that’s the policy of President Duterte against his critics, especially those countries who voted in favor of the Iceland resolution, naisip din ba ng Pangulo na mag-withdraw na lang sa UN?
SEC. PANELO: Tatanungin natin siya kung gusto niyang mag-withdraw.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: But would that be prudent for the President to do that?
SEC. PANELO: Na-i-speculate ka na naman. Hindi pa nga natin alam kung iniisip niya iyon. We’ll ask him first.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So ang affected is going to be Spain ‘no, point 20. Ito iyong nasa pipeline. But France didn’t sign, so irrelevant, sir, iyong 21 million Euros? So we’re just talking about Spain?
SEC. PANELO: Iyong France hindi bumoto? Eh di tuloy sa France. Basta iyon lang mga bumuto.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Bakit binanggit ni Sec. Sonny, hala?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, kaya niya binanggit—
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ah iyon lang iyong mga projects that are there.
SEC. PANELO: Oo, kaya niya binanggit iyon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So we’re talking about just Spain, iyon iyong maaapektuhan noon kasi it’s in the pipeline.
SEC. PANELO: Kung baka mayroon ding mga bansa na nag-o-offer at acceptable siya.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So Spain lang, sir, ha. Isusulat ko Spain lang. Anyway, sir, sa elevated EDSA, you talked of it as though it’s been approved. Has it been approved?
SEC. PANELO: I know it’s a proposal; but it’s a beautiful proposal.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yeah, but my question is—
SEC. PANELO: I understand, he was talking with Secretary Tugade. And Secretary Tugade is welcoming such an idea.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero that will have to go through NEDA ‘no?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, of course.
ROMMEL/TV5: Sec., good morning. Sec., reaction lang. Mataas pa rin iyong approval ratings, satisfaction ratings ng drug war ni Presidente—
SEC. PANELO: Good you mentioned that. In fact, that is our response to the critics like that human rights somebody there who was ahead of my interview. Sinasabi niya, ayun, the usual.
Ang problema, the survey shows, 82%. And it has been unchanged since two years ago, I think. Anong ibig sabihin noon? These are the people who know the circumstances on the ground. These are the respondents asked by SWS. Kung talagang may problema tayo sa pag-aabuso, lalabas sa survey iyon.
Sinasabi kanina ni Christian [Esguerra], ‘Eh, sir, kasi magaling magsalita si Presidente, may rapport sa masa.’ Kahit kako pinakamagaling na speaker iyan sa buong mundo, pareho rin ni Mr. Marcos, kung ang reality mo sa ground ay may abuso, tatanggalin ka gaya ng ginawa sa kaniya. Eh bakit ang kaniyang approval rating ganoon pa rin? So ibig sabihin, hindi totoo lahat ng mga criticism against him.
ROMMEL/TV5: Follow up lang, sir—
SEC. PANELO: Going fourth na tayo ha, lagpas na tayo ng three years.
ROMMEL/TV5: Sir, ito rin siguro ang basis ng Presidente kung bakit siguro malakas ang loob to…pabayaan na lang itong mga proposals na ito, mga project na ito, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi lang sa malakas ang loob, kasi alam niyang tama ang ginagawa niya at nakikita mo iyong tao ay suportado siya.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Hi, sir. Mayroon kang early statement kanina na you are supportive of the position of Congressman Rufus Rodriguez na magbitiw na iyong PMA Superintendent Lt. General Ronnie Evangelista. Is this your own opinion lang, sir, or the President?
SEC. PANELO: No, personal opinion ko lang iyon. Kasi as I was saying, if I were the boss, how can I be staying a minute longer in my office if I do not know what is happening in my office, ‘di ba? You are the Superintendent of the PMA tapos may hazing pa diyan, bakit hindi mo alam iyan? Bakit hindi mo ma-stop? That is precisely why personally I’m suggesting that there must be a law that will make the heads, like the PMA, accountable criminally; tigil iyan.
Alam mo kapag ginawa mong criminally subject sila sa prosecution, I don’t think magkakaroon pa ng hazing. Kahit sa mga fraternities, gawin mo iyong pinaka-head, papakulong mo.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: So will you propose this, sir, to the President na ipag-utos na ganoon, gawing criminally liable iyong head?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, sa Congress iyon; hindi sa Presidente. Kongreso iyon.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: And alam na po ba ni Presidente iyong nangyari sa PMA and ano iyong thoughts niya about it?
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre galit siya sa nangyayari. Alam mo si Presidente, he’s one man who is always outraged by any kind of oppression; and hazing is an oppressive act, kasi sinasaktan mo intentional. Murder nga ang dating eh kapag namatay. Siyempre ayaw niya iyon.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: May latest directive ba siya, sir, hinggil dito?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, hindi naman kailangan siyang mag-directive pa; alam na nila ang dapat nilang gawin kapag nagkaroon ng ganitong insidente.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, pero in the real world, do you think talagang mawawala iyong tradisyon ng hazing or parang—
SEC. PANELO: Bakit hindi?
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sa PMA?
SEC. PANELO: Gawin mo ngang heinous crime iyan at responsible iyong heads and all members, tigil iyan. Sige nga, kung ikaw ang head, bakit ka naman papayag. Hindi ka na papayag siyempre. Eh ngayon hindi eh.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Pero can you assure the family of Mr. Dormitorio ng justice—
SEC. PANELO: Oh yes, we will prosecute those people behind. Hindi pupuwede iyon.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Knowing the code of Omerta sa Ayers…
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, hindi totoo iyon. Basta may ebidensiya at may nagsalita—alam mo kasi, kailangan may ebidensiya ka when you prosecute eh. Kahit pa pinaka-heinous crime iyan kung wala kang ebidensya, documentary o testimonial, eh idi-dismiss ng hukuman. Iyan ang reality sa ground.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So you are supportive of the … even iyong panawagan din ng pamilya ni Atio [UST student Horacio Castillo III]—
SEC. PANELO: Personally, yes.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: heinous crime na iyong—
SEC. PANELO: Personally ha, ako gusto ko ganiyan para matigil na iyan.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Personally as Presidential Spokesman?
SEC. PANELO: No, personally as me.
LEI: Good noon, Spox. Nagsimula na po sumipa iyong presyo ng produktong petrolyo dahil doon sa attack sa Saudi. Ano po ang ginagawang hakbang ng gobyerno para hindi masyadong indahin ng publiko?
SEC. PANELO: Well, sabi ni Presidente, inatasan na niya sila … iyong mga involved na agencies na maghanap ng ibang mga sources ng oil para manatili iyong ating supply. In other words, hindi tayo magre-rely doon.
LEI: Opo, follow up lang po. Iyong DOE parang may balak daw silang hilingin sa Malacañang na magbaba kayo ng executive order para bumuo ng oil contingency task force.
SEC. PANELO: Sino iyon?
LEI: Iyong DOE mismo magre-request daw yata po sa inyo.
SEC. PANELO: Anong grupo iyon?
LEI: Department of Energy po.
SEC. PANELO: Ini-initial mo kasi eh. Kumbaga, I cannot be remembering all those initials, mga acronyms. In fact, nagre-react nga ako kapag, kahit sa opisina, kapag sabi ni ganito, sino ito? Pag-iisipin mo pa ako kung sino, kaninong initial iyan.
LEI: So ano iyong plano dito ng Malacañang kasi magre-request daw po ng Department of Energy iyong oil contingency task force?
SEC. PANELO: Then we will wait for their request, and the Palace, the Office of the President will study it.
TINA MARALIT/TRIBUNE: Sir, last week, the group Lawyers for Lawyers and several other international lawyers groups filed a petition asking President Duterte to “stop attacks and extrajudicial killings against Filipino lawyers.” Nakarating na po ba ito kay Presidente?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala pa akong natatanggap nun. Saan sila nag-file, sa Supreme Court?
TINA MARALIT/TRIBUNE: Sir, I’ll send the link to you po. Pero should it be proven po na may abuses nga po against lawyers, ano po ang ipag-uutos ng Palasyo?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, hindi na kailangang mag-utos. We have laws, if you violate the law on that, then you will be prosecuted.
TINA MARALIT/TRIBUNE: Pero sir, reaction po na iyong accusations nga po na EJKs against lawyers eh dahil daw po marami sa kanila human rights defenders na who are very critical of the government…
SEC. PANELO: Hindi totoo iyon. Alam mo gaya ng sinabi ko, kailangan kasi may ebidensiya ka, you cannot just generalize. Kasi may mga lawyers na namamatay, because of their involvement personally kung sino ang kaaway nila. Second, iyong tungkol sa mga kasong hawak nila, kung nagre-react iyong mga kalaban nila. So, it doesn’t follow… depende.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Sec, tanungin lang po namin kayo, reaction ninyo regarding doon sa statement in Special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo about doon sa statement niyang naging controversial, iyong ‘in-ambush kita’ kay former Mayor Loot.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam, ano ba ang sinabi niya?
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Ang sinabi po ni special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo, ‘knowing President, he really meant what he said, he is not dumb. Let’s take the President for what he is, super honest, but vulgar in his speech.’
SEC. PANELO: I agree, because the President said, it was a joke, so he really meant that it was a joke, I agree with Ramon Tulfo.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Pero hindi true iyong sinabi niya==
SEC. PANELO: Sinabi niya, kasi tinanong ko si Presidente di ba? Kasi ang basa ko—oh by the way, I have a new position. I’m the head of the Department of Interpretations and Clarifications according to Senator Hontiveros. Kasi… hindi ba ang unang interpretasyon ko doon, dahil hindi siya proficient sa Filipino language, kaya instead na sabihin niya na ‘in-ambush ka na, buhay ka pa,’ ang nasabi niya ay ‘in-ambush kita, buhay ka pa.’ Nung tinanong ko siya, sabi niya, eh sila naman, hindi na sila nasanay sa akin, alam naman nilang palagi akong nagbibiro tungkol doon, tingnan mo ang transcript ko, ganundin ang sinasabi ko ah. Oh eh kaya joke, it was a joke.
So when Ramon Tulfo says he meant what he said. Then I agree, it was a joke and he meant that it was a joke.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, last week you confirmed President Duterte’s trip to Russia. Could you give us more details?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa, hindi ko nga alam ang flight details eh. Wala pa, ongoing pa iyon, baka nag-uusap pa sila eh.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Pero you said, it was upon the invitation of Russian—
SEC. PANELO: Yes, definitely, iyan ang sabi ni Presidente sa akin.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So ano po iyong mga possible na napag-usapan—
SEC. PANELO: Eh sabi niya antayin n’yo na lang daw ang sasabihin niya kung matuloy.
MPC: Ha…
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Kung matuloy iyong mga pagpunta at usapan doon, siyempre may mga agenda iyon. Kung ano ang resulta. Kumbaga, wag nating pangunahan siya kung ano ang agenda niya.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, during his last visit President Duterte was able to secure arms from Russia.
SEC. PANELO: Arms, yes.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Ganundin po ba, sir iyong target ni Presidente?
SEC. PANELO: Baka naman this time iyong visit niya tungkol sa bala, kasi noon arms lang di ba. Baka wala pang bala. Hindi pa natin nga alam, kasi hindi pa niya sinabi, tinatanong ko. Sabihin mo sa kanila mag-antay sila.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So, meron din daw po siya, sir sa Sochi, so ano iyong pupuntahan niya doon, sir?
SEC. PANELO: An iyong Sochi sa part ng Russia? Narinig ko rin iyan pero hindi niya rin sinabi kung bakit. Basta ang alam ko si Joseph nandoon.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, with the recent development doon sa Middle East lalo sa oil industry, then the expected na P1.28 increase sa presyo ng diesel bukas, nabuhay na naman iyong isyu ng oil cartel, tapos iyong monopoly of supply and demand and pricing of oil sa Pilipinas. Suportado n’yo ba iyong panukala na amendment ngayon sa oil deregulation law, adding penalties; kasi ngayon eh, parang nganga lang iyong batas eh, wala man lang ngipin to penalize iyong mga oil companies to be proven na umaabuso sa kanilang practice?
SEC. PANELO: I’ll ask the President about it.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So, wala bang parang gagawin ang Pangulo na parang mala-Putin, iyong parang ginawa ni Putin noon na talagang binanatan niya iyong mga oil companies, mga businessmen sa kanila at tumino naman sila. Baka kailangan ng Pangulo eh, medyo pagbantaan ding papatayin iyong mga nasa oil companies?
SEC. PANELO: Dumarating sa kanya iyong mga proposal di pag-aaralan niya iyan.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Secretary, sa pinakahuling statement ni Senator Rubio. Lalo na bang lumabo ang tiyansa na bumisita sa United States si Pangulong Duterte?
SEC. PANELO: Ano ba ang sinabi ni Senator Rubio?
MPC: Palayain daw po si De Lima.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Sabi ni Senator Rubio, bogus iyong charges ng administrasyon kay Senator De Lima, therefore dapat daw palayain ang senadora.
SEC. PANELO: Agree na bogus iyong mga statements niya. Iyong statement ni Senador Rubio iyon ang bogus, walang batayan. Papano—kagaya nga ng sinabi ko sa programa mo kanina, paano naman magiging bogus, dalawang process ang dinaanan, nagdemanda, nagkaroon ng PI [preliminary investigation]; nagsumite ng ebidensiya, nagsumite rin iyong kalaban; tapos dinitermine ng prosecutor na may probable cause. Hindi naman huminto doon eh, ipinayl. Under the Constitution, the judge personally should examine the evidence and find if there is probable cause before he can issue a warrant. Eh, ginawa niya iyon, may warrant, oh paano maging bogus.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Sabi ninyo, you are not responding to a non-sense statement. Pero ang Presidente mismo… word from the President, ano ang sabi niya kay Senator Rubio, the President himself?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, hindi ko tinanong tungkol doon.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Okay, so malabo na ba siyang lalong pumunta ng US or what?
SEC. PANELO: Unang-una. ayaw niya naman talagang pumunta roon, di ba, ayaw niya iyong temperatura doon eh.
HENRY URI/DZRH: So, wala nang pag-asa.
SEC. PANELO: Tingnan natin. Sabi nga natin kung mabago ang kalakaran di mababago rin ang posisyon niya.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Sir, sa Paris, ayaw ni sir?
SEC. PANELO: Oh iyan ang gusto ni Joseph, sama ako.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Medyo matagal na pero wala pa kaming statement from you. There’s a report from our own Defense Department saying that sometime in May… but the report was released in September. Sometime in May blinock ng Chinese warship iyong ating mga barko on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Saan galing iyong report na iyon?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: DND.
SEC. PANELO: Oh eh di tatanungin ko si Secretary Delfin. Kadarating niya lang yata kahapon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Yeah, but my question is: is that objectionable, that blocking of the Chinese warship of our resupplying mission?
SEC. PANELO: Bakit daw nila blinock? Eh di tanungin natin kung totoo o hindi.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Well, it’s the report from DND, they could not be lying.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, ang ibig kong sabihin bakit nila blinock.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: You mean. China?
SEC. PANELO: Baka meron ng subject of protest diyan si Secretary Locsin.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Pero sir, hindi ba siya objectionable? I mean it’s a resupply mission to a permanent, semi-permanent ship there.
SEC. PANELO: Ano iyong ano, what’s the purpose of that ship?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: Resupply, sir, ibig sabihin pagkain, oil, all the supplies that our soldiers need in Sierra Madre.
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre objectionable iyon, kung…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: But?
SEC. PANELO: Magdadala lang pala ng pagkain, bakit mo naman iba-block.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA: What do you think of this, China doing this to us?
SEC. PANELO: We will leave that to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, turf niya na iyon.
USEC. IGNACIO: Thank you, Secretary Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Thank you also.
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SOURCE: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
