USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: Good afternoon MPC; let’s now have Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Good afternoon, MPC.
I would like to assure the nation that the President is safe, in good hands and in good health. There was an accident, we confirmed that, last night. He rode in his motorcycle but when he was—after he parked his motorcycle, his shoes… naipit so he was trying to reach for it, natumba siya. So he had slight bruise in the elbow and in the tuhod/knee. Okay na siya, okay naman siya.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, nagkausap na kayo ni Presidente? Ano ho ‘yung pagkakakuwento?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Kausap ko si—ka-text ko si FL, First Lady.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: So, paano po ‘yung kaniyang mga—iyong official schedule niya katulad—
SEC. PANELO: Eh palagay ko… nag-breakfast na nga kanina, lumalakad naman. I don’t think na maka-cancel any of his activities because of that, very slight.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Pati po ‘yung state visit bukas ni Indian President mahaharap niya?
SEC. PANELO: Palagay ko. Wala namang sinasabi—kung iyon lang aksidente. Eh aksidenteng napaka—it happens. Mas matindi pa siguro ‘yung… ‘pag ako natutumba doon. Wala iyon, napakaano… very slight.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, pero sabi ni SBG masakit iyong balakang ang tina-try niya to convince na—
SEC. PANELO: Eh siyempre, ‘pag natumba ka ‘di medyo naano ka nang konti… nayanig iyong katawan mo.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero hindi naman po ‘yun—kailangan bang ipa-check o magpa-check si PRRD?
SEC. PANELO: Walang medical procedure. Ako pa nag-medical procedure kahapon eh. Wala iyon.
Q: Nandoon ka sir?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi… iyong medical procedure ko, iba naman iyon. Tinitingnan kung magkaklase kami sa Drooping Eyelid.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ah… Pero sir si PRRD, so iyon po sa balakang confirmed naman iyon sir ‘no? Sabi naman ni SBG iyon eh.
SEC. PANELO: Eh baka… naano lang, nayanig lang iyon. Otherwise mayroon nang statement na ika-cancel ang mga activities niya.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So sir ‘pag nag-cancel, ibig sabihin noon medyo… magpapa-checkup?
SEC. PANELO: Eh baka gusto sigurong magpahinga, pero wala iyon.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Sir, ika-clarify ko lang po. Kasi sabi po ng PSG, ni General Niembra, hindi po naka-park; parang tumama daw sa bato ‘yung trike ni Pangulo tapos hindi naman daw po natumba o nahiwalay iyong katawan niya sa motorsiklo. So… I mean, sumemplang eh ‘di ba so paano po—ano po talaga iyong account?
SEC. PANELO: Kausap ko si First Lady, kinuwento niya sa akin.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Okay. So Ma’am Honeylet po ay present po noong nangyari iyon?
SEC. PANELO: Ay hindi ko alam, basta iyon ang kuwento sa akin.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Okay. So the official Palace line is iyong account ninyo po? Iyon po ‘yung—
SEC. PANELO: Yes, kung ano ‘yung kinuwento sa akin ni FL.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Okay sir, thank you.
FRANCIS/DAILY TRIBUNE: Hi sir, good morning. Sir confirm lang. Bale kagabi kasi ‘di ba may activity si Pangulo, then after noon pumunta siya sa wake noong father ni Claudine. Tama po ba, kagabi iyon after ng event sa Taguig?
SEC. PANELO: Sa Hyatt.
FRANCIS/DAILY TRIBUNE: Oo.
SEC. PANELO: I think so, kasi pagdating ko doon sa Heritage nandoon na siya.
FRANCIS/DAILY TRIBUNE: So after noong sa wake, dumiretso po ng Malacañang then nag-motor?
SEC. PANELO: Eh siguro after magpahinga nang konti baka nag—
FRANCIS/DAILY TRIBUNE: Sir, usual ho bang ginagawa ni Pangulo na nagmo-motor siya nang late night? Is that—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam, but every now and then naririnig ko na nag-motor siya. ‘Di ba one time, nag-motor siya eh… before a few minutes sinundan siya kaagad noong PSG.
FRANCIS/DAILY TRIBUNE: Parang sa hobby niya po ‘yan ‘di ba, iyong parang… ‘pag wala siyang ginagawa, parang past time sir.
SEC. PANELO: Oo, past time, siguro nga.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sir so ano, motor ‘to ng Pangulo? Hindi siya nanghiram? Sarili niyang motorsiklo?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, may motorsiklo naman.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sir ano ba ‘to, Harley? Is it a big bike o small?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung anong motor, basta motorsiklo.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: So regularly, ginagawa niya na umiikot sa—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung regularly, basta nangyari kagabi.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, si President ba bibisita siya doon sa mga areas na affected ng lindol today or—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung today, pero hindi ba palagi naman siyang bumibisita ‘pag may mga ganiyang kalamidad.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, what was the reaction of the President noong narinig niya iyong balita about earthquake sa Mindanao?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko siya nakausap. Hindi ko siya nakausap kagabi eh, iba ang pinag-usapan namin kagabi while I… noong hinatid ko siya sa sasakyan niya.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, may directives po ba ang Palace regarding this; sa government agencies—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, palagi namang mayroon eh kasi in place naman na lahat ng government agencies. So automatic iyon, the President does not even have to make any directive to any department or agency, palaging automatic iyong galaw kaagad.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Pero, ano pong expectation natin sa performance ng departments and agencies when it comes to responding to series of earthquakes?
SEC. PANELO: Palaging okay ‘di ba, everytime nagkakaroon ng meeting after the incident, napupuri niya nga eh dahil mabilis ang response.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Will the President ask for a situation briefing?
SEC. PANELO: Palagi namang ganoon. That always happen, everytime na may kalamidad palaging may situation briefing.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Can we say sir na we can expect the President to go to those places anytime?
SEC. PANELO: Given his style, it’s not… it’s not a wonder if he goes there.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Did he communicate with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and ask her—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam iyon. Sabi nga pala ni Mayor Sara di ba, zero casualty in Davao City.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, follow up lang. Wala po ba kayong message ng pakikiramay sa mga biktima ng lindol sa Mindanao?
SEC. PANELO: Nai-release na ba iyong statement?
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Wala pa.
SEC. PANELO: Ire-release ba iyon anytime. Di ba sabi n’yo before 5; palaging sabi ninyo before 5.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, your message lang lalo sa pamilya ng lima na namatayan sa lindol?
SEC. PANELO: Of course we’re sad to hear of the earthquake and the outcome to the victims of earthquake, we would like to express our sympathies. The President has directed agencies to assist in whatever way they can do to alleviate the suffering of these people. And to undertake any rehabilitation activities relative to whatever damages that the residents in Cotabato City went through.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Last point, sir is the President considering visiting those areas—natanong na? Okay, thank you, sir.
ARRIANE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Hi sir. Sir, clarify lang po kasi medyo iba-iba po iyong istorya nung accident ni President Duterte.
SEC. PANELO: Whatever story ang importante he is in good hands, walang ano, walang major injury.
ARRIANE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Pero sir, clarify lang din po namin iyong details. Kasi sir sabi po ni Senator Bong Go, umaandar daw po at paliko nung nangyari iyong… kaya sumemplang.
SEC. PANELO: Hayaan n’yo na iyong ano… kung papano nangyari; ang importante walang nangyari sa kanya. Hindi na importante siguro iyong kung whether it was—kasi ang sabi ni FL, the First Lady, he was already parking. Naka-park na.
ARRIANE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Sir, andoon po ba si Miss… nung nangyari?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam, basta iyan ang kuwento niya.
ARRIANE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: So sir, hindi n’yo po balak i-clarify iyong statement para isa lang po—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi na importante—ang importante okay na si Presidente, iyon ang mahalaga doon. Mas mahalaga na okay ang ating Presidente.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE MEDIA NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: Sir, clarification lang po, kasi kahapon na-meet po nila Pangulong Duterte, iyong courtesy call po nung mga World champions.
SEC. PANELO: Wala ako doon eh. Tinext ko si Sen. Bong, wala pa siyang response with respect to that.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE MEDIA NETWORK INTERNATIONAL: Yes sir, ang clarification ko lang sana, sir, is maliban doon sa ibibigay na—
SEC. PANELO: Whether on top of it or di ba, iyon ang tanong. Iyon din ang tanong ko, wala pa akong sagot na natanggap. Wala, sana nakalabas na sa galing ninyo.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Sir, sorry papa-check po ba sa doctor ni Pangulo following the—
SEC. PANELO: No, galos lang eh. Scratch, kumbaga scratch.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Again, he will be attending—we will see him later tonight in his event in Manila Hotel?
SEC. PANELO: Mukhang, wala naman sinasabing canceled eh, otherwise sinabi na kaagad.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, iyong no more na check-up, was that the decision of the Palace or it just maybe a hunch from your side?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, kung ang sabi ni FL scratch lang, di sana sinabi na sa akin.
Q: Sir, may we get some detail tungkol po doon sa closed door command conference ni Pangulo and the police officials, because meron daw pong sinasabi na PRRD was disappointed?
SEC. PANELO: He just expressed disappointment, iyon lang ang mako-confirm ko, the rest hindi ko na ma-confirm. Expressed disappointment over certain—iyon nga iyong incident on the ninja cops. Sabi niya dinagdagan niya na nga ang suweldo, dinoble na, pero parang hindi pa rin… iyon, nangyari pa rin iyon. So he expressed disappointment with that.
Q: Were there order, sir, from the President?
SEC. PANELO: Wala akong alam, iyon lang ang puwedeng i-confirm.
TINA MENDEZ/PHIL. STAR: Sir, was there no mention of candidates sa Chief PNP and also, since it was a joint command conference with the PNP and the AFP, any other directives regarding Mindanao?
SEC. PANELO: Wala na, hindi ba nasa diyaryo na walang… no announcement was made.
TINA MENDEZ/PHIL. STAR : Sir, Internal Security Operations?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala. Wala kasi ako doon, I was not present eh.
TINA MENDEZ/ PHIL. STAR: Sir, were you not able to get a transcript, sir?
SEC. PANELO: No, wala—hindi tina-transcribe eh. Humingi ako ng transcript, hindi talaga tina-transcribe iyon.
TINA MENDEZ/ PHIL. STAR: Baka may note taker, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Wala eh. Kung meron man eh they don’t want to share.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Sir, iyong mga bakanteng posisyon, iyong PNP Chief, tapos po iyong dalawang Supreme Court Associate Justices at iba pa na mga posisyon. Bukod po sa mga rekomendasyon mula sa mga ahensiya katulad po ng DILG at saka ng JBC, sinu-sino po iyong mga trusted inner circle ng Pangulo na tumutulong at gumagabay sa kanya sa pamimili nung mga ia-appoint niya sa mga posisyong ito?
SEC. PANELO: Si Presidente lang naman ang nagde-decide noon eh.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Pero natanggap po ba siya ng mga vetting from Cabinet members?
SEC. PANELO: Natural lang iyon na may natatanggap siyang mga ganoon. But—
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Particularly from the Cabinet member, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Cabinet members, I doubt. Kasi ang style ni Presidente kapag nag-recommend ka, lalong hindi niya ia-appoint.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: How about the likes of Senator Bong Go, Senator Bato Dela Rosa?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam. Ang pagkakaalam ko kay Presidente, may sarili siyang istilo ng pag-vet.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: How about the daughter po?
SEC. PANELO: Basta may sarili siyang style ng vetting.
ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: So hindi po siya natanggap ng recommendation from the likes of Senator Bong Go and Dela Rosa?
SEC. PANELO: Iyong mga nakakakilala sa kaniya will not dare recommend kasi alam nila lalong hindi maa-appoint.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, magre-retire na si Chief Justice Bersamin tomorrow, and you have four names ‘no. Wala pa pong decision—
SEC. PANELO: Akala ko three? Three na lang ang short list.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ah three ba iyong na-forward. Yes, sir. Wala pa?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa siyang binabanggit. Baka mamaya mayroon tayong makuha.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero, sir, will the President follow seniority, because that’s what he said before in appointing the next chief justice?
SEC. PANELO: Did he follow the seniority when Justice Tony Carpio was not appointed?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: But he declined. Justice Carpio declined that, am I right?
SEC. PANELO: Tanungin ko siya. I will ask him.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So meaning, he may not follow seniority—
SEC. PANELO: Siguro mamaya may announcement na iyon eh, kung bukas na magre-retire o baka may OIC.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Sir, nakarating na po ba kay Pangulo iyong talks of—iyong sa issue of Speakership? As far as the President is concerned, iyong term sharing po ba na he basically agreed to before, iyon pa rin dapat ang masunod?
SEC. PANELO: Parang hindi ko naririnig na pinag-uusapan iyon sa Cabinet or among small huddles. Hindi ko naririnig iyon.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Okay. But as far as Malacañang is concerned, the term sharing agreement stands or should be followed by—
SEC. PANELO: In the first place, the agreement was among themselves eh. Wala namang kinalaman ang Malacañang doon ‘di ba; nag-propose lang dahil hiningi iyong kaniyang mungkahi.
And remember that sinabi ni Presidente, ‘Ang ultimate approval, sa inyo iyan; hindi sa akin.’ ‘Di ba palagi niyang sinasabi.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: So even if the President sort of, you know, gave his suggestion as you say before. If let’s say House Speaker Cayetano refuses to step down and give way to the next—
SEC. PANELO: Nasa members of Congress iyon. After all, they’re the ones choosing their Speaker.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Okay. The President will not interfere?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t think, Ina, he interferes.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Even if Congressman Velasco does not end up—
SEC. PANELO: His style is he does not interfere, unless you ask him… suggestions.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, iyon pong DILG pinapa-lift iyong ban on provincial shipment ng pork and pork products. Iyong mga provinces parang ayaw noon but the DILG wants it lifted. Comment?
SEC. PANELO: Siguro dapat ang magdi-decide doon Secretary of Agriculture. ‘Di ba siya iyong … teritoryo niya. Baka suggestion lang naman iyon kay DILG Secretary.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So bahala na po ang DA ‘no?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, silang dalawa ang mag-uusap doon.
USEC. IGNACIO: Okay. Thank you, Secretary Panelo. Thank you, MPC.
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Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
