USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: Good afternoon MPC; let’s now have Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Good morning. Joseph [laughs]…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yesterday sir, si Presidente na ang nagpa-ambush and then he mentioned he wants some kind of accountability for the parents; parang the reason why he wants it lowered and he’s okay with 12, para daw ma-realize noong mga parents that they have some responsibility over their children, right?
SEC. PANELO: Yes…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And then he mentioned iyong term na ‘kulong’, but under our laws wala namang ganoon sir na transfer of accountability from, say minor to parents, yes? Wala pang ganoong mecha—
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa. Pero kung under the present law—present proposed law, mayroon… wala pa rin? Eh baka gusto nila—baka nga Congress can introduce provisions to that.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Na?
SEC. PANELO: Na in case of children committing crimes, parents proved to be neglectful then they should also be accountable.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, under mga legal theory, puwede ba iyon sir?
SEC. PANELO: Bakit naman hindi… Although a crime is supposed to be personal, pero—
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Correct…
SEC. PANELO: But even in crimes, hindi ba mayroong reckless imprudence, it’s also a crime. Puwedeng pumasok sila doon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So you think the President is contemplating maybe also punishment or—for the—
SEC. PANELO: But I think there should be some kind of punishment to the parents also if they are neglectful either deliberately or recklessly. Supposed to be the parents are the trainor of children, the molder of children to become righteous individuals and good citizens.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, kahapon po nag-usap kayo, we saw it sa stage—
SEC. PANELO: Yes…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And what did you talk about?
SEC. PANELO: We talked about… I said the House has lowered the age of minors in regard to the responsibility. He said, “Well okay lang,” sabi niya “basta…” Okay sa kaniya iyong 12.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, iyon pong kino-contemplate natin na punishment for the parents ‘no, under Article 80 of the Revised Penal Code mayroon po doon na imo-monitor iyong—ibibigay iyong minor sa institution; in this case sa mga Bahay Pag-asa or sa mga parents din, and then the parents will be supervised by the DSWD. Meaning, there’s a little sharing of burden so to speak ‘no for—
SEC. PANELO: You know that alone, that provision is already a punishment to the parents because when you deprive the parents of parental custody, it’s a kind of punishment. Can you imagine your own children, you cannot rear them… masakit iyon lalo pa kung mahal na mahal mo.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, last one. So we’re contemplating a form of punishment other than what is in Article 80?
SEC. PANELO: We are not contemplating; the President is expressing an idea. It’s again on the part of Congress to realize such an idea – if they’re open to that, then they can do something about it.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Alright sir, that’s it for me na. Thank you!
CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Sir, do you think objections to the proposed bill will go down or will die down because the President said he’s comfortable with lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old?
SEC. PANELO: I think the opposition is based on the incarceration of children. Doon naman ang—but under the proposed bill, wala naman eh; and even in fact ang hindi yata alam ng marami that this, iyong 9 years old eh dati nang batas iyon eh – for decades iyon ang ating batas, wala namang nagrereklamo doon ever since. Sa 2003-2006 noong in-amend naging 15; but actually 9 dati na ‘yan eh. But even during the previous law, under the previous law wala… wala rin namang incarceration – its rehabilitation.
CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: So it’s not really the age, sir?
SEC. PANELO: No, I think the imprisonment. I agree—me, I am agreeable there, you cannot be putting to jail these minors; you have to correct them, rehabilitate them. Kasi they become more hardened pagka-ikinulong mo iyan lalo na mapasama sa mga hardened criminals.
Q: Hi, sir. Si Senator Bam Aquino ay sinabi niya na hindi siya pabor dito sa lowering of the age of criminal responsibility. But then sabi niya kasi may problema daw ho tayo sa Bahay Pag-asa, dito sa baba because the lacking of facilities na hindi puwedeng—hindi daw makakatulong para ma-rehabilitate, magbagong-buhay because of the lack of facilities po.
SEC. PANELO: Eh kung iyon lang ang problema ‘di dagdagan natin ang pondo – napakaliit naman ng problemang ‘yan. If it’s a matter of funding, then let’s put some funds or more funds.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, clarification. When you say matagal nang nasa law iyong 9 years old, you’re referring to the RPC ‘no?
SEC. PANELO: Oo…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay sir, iyon lang. Thank you.
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Good morning, Secretary. Sir ongoing ngayon iyong Senate hearing sa third telco player. In line of this sir, sir may rift ba between Presidential Adviser Ramon Jacinto and OIC Secretary Eliseo Rio? Kasi apparently sir based on reports, Secretary Rio favors opening up the construction of tower companies to six independent parties. Samantalang si RJ Jacinto eh gusto niya ma-limit lang sa dalawa.
SEC. PANELO: Baka may disagreement lang sila sa ano, method. We should ask… we should ask the parties involved. I do not know of any rift between the two.
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Pero doon sa decision, sir, sino ba ang dapat mag-decide – si Rio or si RJ Jacinto?
SEC. PANELO: Mag-decide on what?
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Doon sa independent—putting up of tower companies.
SEC. PANELO: I think if there is any difference between the two, they should resolve it between and among themselves. Now if they can’t still agree, they can always ask the President to decide.
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Okay. So hindi muna mamamagitan ang Palasyo, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Sa ngayon, hindi.
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Okay, thank you sir.
CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Sir, good morning. Mr. Iqbal is asking lawmakers to include the intended budget for the Bangsamoro Region in the 2019 Budget even though the ratification of BOL is not yet done pa. So will the Palace lobby for it, for the lawmakers na i-include na sa budget iyong—for the Bangsamoro transition?
SEC. PANELO: What I know mayroon nang budget diyan eh, doon sa proposed budget. Parang narinig ko si Secretary Diokno mayroon na. In fact kahit nga noong hindi na na-propose, sinasabi niya may budget tayo diyan sa plebiscite.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Sir, I understand nasa Palasyo na raw po iyong Rice Tariffication Bill at pirma na lang ni Presidente ang hinihintay. What’s taking it so long sir para mapirmahan?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi natin alam, kasi ang sabi sa akin ni ES nasa OP na. So hintayin na lang natin siguro, eh maraming trabaho ang Presidente eh.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: But, isa yata iyon sa alam ko sir na priority ni Presidente, mapababa ang presyo ng bigas.
SEC. PANELO: Oh yes, it will come.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Yes. But, when sir?
SEC. PANELO: Oh then, let’s ask the President. It’s on his table so…
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Okay, another matter sir. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that iyong opinion ng DOJ on the—iyong panukala na ibaba na iyong criminal responsibility ng mga bata, nagpasa na raw po sila sa Palasyo. Have you read it, sir?
SEC. PANELO: No, I haven’t read it. I don’t have a copy.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Okay, thank you.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Good morning, sir. Sir, sa latest update ng Philippine Statistics Authority, nasa 6.2% lang ang GDP growth for the entire 2018 – that’s missing the government’s target of 6.5 to 6.9. What do you think of this, sir?
SEC. PANELO: From what I just read, 6.2 ang growth. In fact happy nga ang Economic Managers—
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: For the fourth quarter sir, there was an increase in the fourth quarter pero overall sir, for the entire year 6.2. Ang target ng government is 6.5 to 6.9, so we missed our target for 2018.
SEC. PANELO: That was because of the inflation eh, iyong inflation rate ang naging problema, iyon ang sinasabi noon ng economic managers.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: It’s not a concern sir, na hindi natin nakuha iyong target?
SEC. PANELO: Well, you always have a concern when you don’t reach a certain target but you work harder so that you can reach it the next time.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Iyong nakuha natin sir na 6.2, do you consider it as mataas or mababa compared to the previous—
SEC. PANELO: Sa palagay ko okay iyon, definitely okay na okay na iyon considering the circumstances surrounding the economy.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: What could we improved sir para ma-hit natin iyong target next time?
SEC. PANELO: We will have t0 ask the economic managers, that’s their turf.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Hi Spokes.
SEC. PANELO: Bernadette.
BERNADETTE/BUSINESS MIRROR: Tanong ko lang po at least disappointed po iyong Palace na na-miss natin iyong growth target for the year po sir, for 2018?
SEC. PANELO: As I said earlier kapag may target ka at hindi mo nakuha eh siyempre medyo disappointed ka, but it doesn’t mean ano ka na, you feel na you’re such a failure. You work harder so that you can reach your target.
BERNADETTE/BUSINESS MIRROR: Okay sir, kasi iyong nakuha po natin for 2018, it’s the slowest in three years, sir. So ano po ba ang—
SEC. PANELO: Kasi ang tingin ko kung walang inflation rate na nagkaproblema mas mataas pa tayo sa target.
BERNADETTE/BUSINESS MIRROR: So sir, confident po tayo next year na mahi-hit na natin iyong 7 to 8 percent target po natin?
SEC. PANELO: Economic managers are very confident na we are in the right track.
BERNADETTE/BUSINESS MIRROR: Bakit sir? Saan po… ano po iyong basis ng confidence natin sir for next year considering na ganito nga po iyong turnout po this 2018, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Aba eh maraming… ‘di ba sinasabi nila na marami na tayong ginawa para ma-neutralize natin iyang mga adverse economic conditions and they are working now.
BERNADETTE/BUSINESS MIRROR: So sa tingin ninyo sir, the best is yet to come pa rin sir, sa economy natin despite this slower performance…
SEC. PANELO: The best is yet to come.
BERNADETTE/BUSINESS MIRROR: Thank you, sir.
Q: Hi sir, Paul. Sir, reaction lang po, kasi kanina nag-attend po kami ng accomplishment report ng Bureau of Customs at nakapagtala po sila ng 592.8 billion na collection last 2018, ang target po nila is 584.8 billion…
SEC. PANELO: 582 ang nakuha?
Q: 592.8 ang nakuha, ang target is 584.8.
SEC. PANELO: So more?
Q: More.
SEC. PANELO: Oh eh ‘di that’s very pleasing to hear. Congratulations, Commissioner Billy Dulay.
Q: Thank you, sir.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, si former President Benigno Aquino III expressed concern over Chinese workers, dumadami na daw sila dito sa Philippines and they’re taking jobs that should be for Filipinos. What do you think of that?
SEC. PANELO: Ito naman si dating Presidente. Noong panahon mo eh… hindi na ako magsasalita. Ikaw talaga….
JOYCE/DZMM: Don’t you believe sir na…
SEC. PANELO: Well, siguro sabihin na lang natin na if he is concerned, we will also be concerned if his basis is correct.
JOYCE/DZMM: What are you—
SEC. PANELO: What was his basis? Was it statistics made by him or his group? Where did he get that information?
JOYCE/DZMM: Sa construction industry daw sir, instead of… iyong mga slots for Filipinos, iyong mga Chinese workers pa daw ang nabibigyan ng trabaho.
SEC. PANELO: Let me tell you something. The other day we were talking with the President. In fact that was I think the first night of the wake of the late Henry Sy Sr., and the family especially Big Boy Sy, was I think mentioning about their construction, is delayed because we lack carpenters, welders, in other words construction workers. And the President agreed, that’s why he said… kaya sinabihan niya daw si TESDA na napakaimportante iyang departamento mo kasi iyan ang problema natin ngayon. We lack so many construction workers, siguro that is why maraming Chinese na kinukuha dahil walang mga Pilipino. Maraming Pilipino ang walang trabaho and yet, they lack the skill so we need to teach them and most likely baka iyang magandang project ng Department ng… Iyong TESDA.
JOYCE/DZMM: So you agree sir, na many Chinese workers are taking the jobs that should be for Filipinos?
SEC. PANELO: Not that I agree. That is probably the reality now, that is why maraming Chinese workers. Kasi hindi ko alam iyong facts na iyon until the other night. Although my personal experience is, I’ve been looking for a carpenter for 6 months, nakakuha lang ako after 6 months.
Q: From China?
SEC. PANELO: No, from here nga. In other words talagang wala, pati welder naghahanap din ako para doon sa aking gate, wala din akong makuha. Sabi ko, ‘Whatever happened to them?’ Kasi iyong mga workers nga daw natin nagpunta na sa abroad, so walang natira. Puro nasa abroad eh, kaya may problema talaga tayo.
JOYCE/DZMM: Another thing sir, sinabi rin ni PNoy, he quoted, iyong strategic comprehensive cooperation between Philippines and China, it’s disadvantageous to the country kasi it seems that the President is shelving the arbitral ruling to favor loans and investment from China.
SEC. PANELO: No… He’s not shelving the arbitral ruling, sinasabi niya lang na ‘it’s impractical for now since unang-una we cannot enforce it, nobody wants to enforce it,’ so rather than awayin natin – if China can help us on trade relations and other aspect – eh ‘di magtulungan muna tayo. But there will come a time na sabi ni Presidente during my term, ilalabas ko iyon in fact he told that to the President of China when we went there.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, doon sa GDP. Sir, ang sabi ng PSA it’s only 0.8 iyong kontribyusyon ng sektor ng agrikultura sa GDP. Sa tingin ninyo parang… Ano bang problema parang… Hindi ho ba parang panahon na para medyo linisin iyong Department of Agriculture at mapalitan na iyong mga pinuno doon? Kasi parang walang masyadong relevant or malaki-laki man lang na naiambag ng sektor ng agrikultura samantalang we are an agricultural country?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman siguro. There are… according to Secretary Piñol, mayroon mga problema din sa sektor niya na ginagawan niya ng paraan, so pabayaan muna siguro natin. Sometimes you cannot do miracle work overnight.
REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: Example lang kasi sir, iyong nangyari ‘di ba iyong parang nagtapon na lang ng mga carrots and even dito sa Candaba iyong mga melon, tinapon na lang nila because of the oversupply at bagsak na presyo, parang walang ginawang intervention ang DA na puwede naman nilang… they themselves, pickup iyong mga over produce at ibaba dito sa Metro Manila and other cities para winwin solution sa farmers at sa mga consumers; walang ginawa si Secretary Piñol yata doon?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t know about that. I will have to ask, Secretary Piñol, in fairness to him.
REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: Please sir, kasi parang… kaya nga evidently truck-truck iyong nasira na mga carrots at itinapon na lang ng mga farmers doon dahil walang nangyaring… parang assistance para maibaba na lang dito sa baba.
SEC. PANELO: Better still, I will invite him on Monday.
REYMUND/BOMBO RADYO: Thank you, sir, please.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Hi sir. Is it your first time to hear about the presence of Chinese workers in the country?
SEC. PANELO: No, minention niyo na iyan noong several news briefings ‘di ba?
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: You didn’t validate it with the Bureau of Immigration?
SEC. PANELO: No, I did.
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: You were not surprised?
SEC. PANELO: I will not surprise because when I learn na walang maraming workers dito at marami-rami ng Chinese, I felt na kaya pala, kaya pala ang dami ng biglang mga Chinese dito.
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: And that’s not alarming on your part?
SEC. PANELO: That there are many Chinese?
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORKD: That they are here.
SEC. PANELO: If they came here through lawful means, then I am not alarmed. I will be alarm if they are here because they violated the law.
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORKD: Thank you.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Hi sir, good morning.
SEC. PANELO: Good morning.
MARICEL/TV5: Sir, follow up lang doon sa mga Chinese workers: So considering that you yourself said na medyo kinukulang tayo ng skilled workers, do you see failure on the part of TESDA bakit tayo medyo nagkakaroon ng shortage of skilled workers?
SEC. PANELO: Not really naman. Kung halimbawa suddenly we have 300,000 construction workers, eh biglang nagpuntahan lahat sa abroad, ano namang kasalanan ng TESDA doon? TESDA has to do something about it kapag na-realize nila na may problema na tayo doon. And then it has to do something – training people who have no jobs, no employment – para magkaroon, to fill up the vacuum. That is precisely why the President said, ‘Oh, your Department is very important ha.’ Eh ganoon may instruction na siya – do something about it.
MARICEL/TV5: So where do you see the problem, sir? Where does the problem lie?
SEC. PANELO: Well, I think the problem is, first, wala nga tayong mga construction workers na ngayon dahil nagpuntahan na sa abroad. Pangalawa, iyong mga technical skills nitong mga umalis, hindi nailipat sa mga anak nila, sa mga pamangkin nila o sa mga kapitbahay nila. So TESDA comes in. I think we should establish more technical schools all over the land.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, sa third telco ‘no. There’s a hearing now in the Senate, and it appears that Mislatel po, iyong franchise, according to Senator Drilon is [inaudible] because it failed to [inaudible] the first year that it had its franchise. Your comment first?
SEC. PANELO: What I know about that is—they had an explanation for that eh. The lawyer of that company issued a press statement, I don’t remember now, but they are disputing that claim.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero tama ba iyon, sir, position na if you have—from a theoretical point of view – if you are granted a franchise and you are not able to operate, your franchise is considered revoked, from a legal stand point?
SEC. PANELO: If there is a provision that says that within so much time that you haven’t, and then it’s considered revoked.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: [inaudible] for franchise grant you mean?
SEC. PANELO: Kasi for all you know, the franchise holder may have transferred the operation sa ibang company and they’re the ones using it. So technically, gumagalaw pa rin; the franchise is being used.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero, sir, kung halimbawa nga revoked, will this jeopardize iyong efforts ng government to have a third telco player?
SEC. PANELO: Kung walang franchise?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Oo.
SEC. PANELO: Kung walang franchise, how can they operate?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yeah, so papaano nga, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Oh di we’ll look for another company that has a franchise. ‘Di ba ang dami namang nag-bid, so I suppose we can always go … or these losing bidders can come in – in the event of a default of the winning bidder.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Regardless, sir, if the franchise holder is Dennis Uy?
SEC. PANELO: Regardless whoever is the owner, it doesn’t matter who, basta qualified.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ibig sabihin, sir, iyong third telco is with Dennis Uy, right? And if they don’t have a franchise, you are okay with finding another one?
SEC. PANELO: Oh definitely because ang involved ay ang bansa naman natin. But as I said, from what I gathered from the lawyer of Dennis Uy, it’s not true. They disputed that and they have documents to show that.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, does the President consider MNLF leader Nur Misuari a threat to the success of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region?
SEC. PANELO: Not really a threat. He considers Nur Misuari as someone – with his group – can help in the end of the conflict in Mindanao. You must remember that Nur Misuari is until now perceived to be the leader of the Muslims.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sulu people voted ‘No’ to the BOL, so how do you take that?
SEC. PANELO: Well, as we said earlier, the President will respect the sovereign will of a particular electorate. But winning doesn’t mean that they will go against the law.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: But it’s possible?
SEC. PANELO: No. You know why? I talked with Sakur Tan and he said he is not really against Bangsamoro Organic Law. They want… just like Nur Misuari, they want federalism better. Oh ibig sabihin, if federalism is better, ibig sabihin Bangsa Organic Law is good; kaya lang may better. So from the point, or from the argument, hindi sila … puwede sila … they can play along.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: The President is planning to talk with Mr. Misuari. So what issues does he plan to—
SEC. PANELO: He wants what?
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: He wants to talk with Mr. Misuari, right? on this matter?
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: And so what issues will he take up with him?
SEC. PANELO: Because Nur Misuari has mentioned or he has certain ideas. I also talked to him and he said, there are many ideas that I can contribute for the peace, prosperity and progress of Mindanao that’s why I like to talk with the President; and I relayed that to the President. And so the President is wanting or open to talking to him with respect to whatever suggestions he has in mind.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: But apparently he wants federalism. So how else the President can—
SEC. PANELO: Well, you know, you can always persuade people. Depende iyan eh. If your idea is good enough, people will always be open to good ideas. Eh kung hindi pupuwede iyan, eh di iba naman.
Just like the President. President makes or introduces one idea or one method, if it doesn’t work, he goes to another mode. He is a creative President.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, the Senate has added provisions to the version of the 2019 budget blocking the needed budget for the China CCTV project, raising national security concerns. How important po ba itong CCTV project with China?
SEC. PANELO: What’s CCTV?
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Safe Philippines Project. It’s a 20 billion project to install security cameras in public places in Metro Manila and Davao City. So sabi ni Senate President Pro-Tempore Recto, may security risk itong ganitong project that’s why they added—
SEC. PANELO: Bakit daw may security risk?
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: China!
SEC. PANELO: Oh eh ano naman kung China.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: National security concern, sir. Surveillance, public surveillance.
SEC. PANELO: Lahat naman niyan ay—well, siguro we understand the apprehensions of some senators but—necessarily, this government will not allow any security leaks. Hindi naman tayo papayag doon.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: So wala tayong gagawin, sir, to ensure na matutuloy pa rin iyong project despite the provision blocking the needed fund for the project?
SEC. PANELO: No funds for the project? I thought you said it’s in the budget.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, they added a provision in the budget to block the funds needed for the projects. So they’re blocking the project.
SEC. PANELO: Well, if the President will exercise his power of veto, that can be vetoed and then maybe …
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Will he veto, sir?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t know about that. But what I am saying is he has that option.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, how important is the project ba for the President to decide to veto that particular line?
SEC. PANELO: I will ask him on that. I have to be certain on that particular project.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Pero, sir, iyong ganoong project, how important is it for the Duterte administration?
SEC. PANELO: Anything that will contribute to the progress of this country, siyempre it’s an important project.
CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO/PDI: But, sir, do we have to review the project, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Kanino bang project iyon in the first place? Who proposed it?
CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO/PDI: DILG, sir. And then Recto is saying that NEDA is not providing them documents.
SEC. PANELO: Who? Who is not providing?
CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO/PDI: NEDA, sir. NEDA is not providing them the documents, because they asked for it doon sa Senate hearing.
SEC. PANELO: Sige. I will ask NEDA on that and DILG and I will have more intelligent discussion on this.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, doon sa children ulit tayo, sir, ha.
SEC. PANELO: Iyong alin?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Iyong sa children, iyong mga delinquent children. You’d prefer that there is a … ano ito, provision in the bill that’s been discussed now or another law that will specify responsibility or accountability on the parents’ part?
SEC. PANELO: Siguro in the present proposed bill dapat andiyan na ngayon iyon. But we’ll leave it to the wisdom of the lawmakers.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero, sir, as an idea, the President is—
SEC. PANELO: That’s a good idea. I’m inclined to have that in the proposed law.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: The President also ‘no?
SEC. PANELO: Since that is his idea, I’m sure he would want it that way.
USEC. IGNACIO: Okay, no more questions? Okay. Maraming salamat, MPC. Thank you, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Thank you.
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Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
