USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: Good morning Malacañang Press Corps; kasama na natin si Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Good morning. Game.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hi sir, good morning. Sir, ano po iyong contingency plan na ikinakasa ng Palasyo para maibsan iyong pahirap po ng water shortage ng Manila Water…?
SEC. PANELO: I’m sure may ginagawa silang paraan doon, iyong mga in charge.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Like what po?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa nakikita iyong Executive Order eh, ginagawa… ginagawa pa lang.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Iyong immediate po, iyong immediate. Kasi po naghihirap na iyong mga tao, nahihirapan…
SEC. PANELO: Pero alam mo, may nabasa kasi akong hindi raw totoo eh.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hindi raw po totoo ang alin?
SEC. PANELO: Teka, sandali ha…
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Ano po iyon? Ano lang iyon—ah, sinadya ba ng Manila Water o mayroon bang… mayroon bang pakana sa likod nito? Ano po iyong nabasa ninyo?
SEC. PANELO: May lumabas sa Cabinet chat eh…
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sige po sir…
SEC. PANELO: I’ll share it. I’ll share… Oh meanwhile, sige habang hinahanap ko anong… next question.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Let’s wait for—can you scroll to the messages from Sonny Dominguez? [laughs]
SEC. PANELO: Hindi eh, mukhang galing kay Secretary of National Defense.
CHORUS: Oooh…
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sabotahe po? Ano ba sabi, sabotahe raw?
SEC. PANELO: Eh, parang hindi lang nagkakaintindihan yata eh.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hindi nagkakaintindihan?
SEC. PANELO: Tanong na kayo ng iba muna, habang ini-scroll ko. Madami na kasi eh…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, kahapon nabanggit na ni Presidente iyong ano, iyong bata ‘no sa Cebu, iyong tinalupan…
SEC. PANELO: Nagre-react siya doon ‘no…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yes, and he’s very mad about it. Any instructions to the police, maybe to speed up the…
SEC. PANELO: Yeah. Ano, may directive na siya to investigate. Tingin namin baka drug addict iyon eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Why did you say so, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Well, mayroon ba namang gumagawa ng ganoon? Biro mo babalatan iyong mukha… my goodness.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Your comment. The doctor say it’s very—ba’t ganoong iyong audio?
SEC. PANELO: Very what?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Very systematic daw iyong pagtanggal ng internal organs and she wasn’t raped.
SEC. PANELO: Ibig sabihin eh surgeon?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: No, naman. I mean, with such a comment na… do you think a drug addict can be as skilled?
SEC. PANELO: Bakit naman? Eh kung isang magaling na medical practitioner o nag-aral, tapos may alam diyan; tapos siya adik, o ‘di puwede iyon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero, sir—
SEC. PANELO: Pero pinapaimbestigahan kung anong nangyari.
USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: May follow up question doon?
SEC. PANELO: Akala ko iyong sa mga pari na naman. Nasabi kasi nung mga pari, iyong nagrereklamong tatlo, i-prove daw namin; we should prove na hindi si Presidente o gobyerno nag-initiate noon.
Naman eh… it’s very elementary that one who alleges must prove. Sila ang nag-aakusa, sila ang magpruweba. Sabi ko nga eh, napaka-convenient na mag-threat by way of a text message. Eh nagre-react sila doon sa sinabi ko, minaliit. Hindi ko minamaliit, I’m just telling you the facts, the reality that prankster could have done it; anti-Duterte trolls could have done it; their personal enemies could have done it; whoever among the circle that know their numbers. Eh in other words hindi natin alam exactly.
But meanwhile, we said and we will repeat it: you go to the police, so that the police can investigate it and so that we can secure your safety. Because this administration will not allow any priest or any bishop, or any of its citizen for that matter to be the subject of any intimidation, threats or violence, or injury coming from any source.
NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.NET: Secretary, this is on the ICC. Has the government received official notice from the ICC on whether it will pursue a preliminary investigation of the claims filed with the court in 2017?
SEC. PANELO: None that I know of. ‘Di sana may nagsabi na sa akin. Wala.
NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.NET: But given the precedent of what happened with Burundi sir, where the country withdrew from the ICC and yet a preliminary investigation into the crimes against humanity was announced by the ICC. Is the government prepared to cooperate with an ICC investigation if one is launched?
SEC. PANELO: First, that Burundi thing, I read about—there was already a trial prior to the withdrawal. So, the situation in the Philippines is different because we said that under the Rome Statute, if there is a preliminary investigation or any proceeding referring to the preliminary investigation, then or—when there is one prior to the effectivity of the withdrawal, they can still proceed with the investigation.
But in this particular case, we said assuming that we have not withdrawn, assuming that they have jurisdiction, they cannot proceed because that is in violation of the Rome Statute because it says there that—or rather what they did was just a preliminary examination not preliminary investigation.
Now your second question is: are we prepared? Eh they don’t have nga jurisdiction. If they don’t have jurisdiction, they cannot do anything against us.
NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.NET: So the government will not cooperate in any investigation?
SEC. PANELO: Eh wala ngang jurisdiction. Bakit ka naman magko-cooperate kung walang jurisdiction? We are not bound by their rules.
NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.NET: Okay, thank you sir.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: [off mic]
SEC. PANELO: Hinahanap ko pa eh, ang dami na kasing pumasok.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, basahin ko lang baka may…
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa. Hinahanap ko iyong under his name. Puro budget itong nakikita ko.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: [off mic] …about the budget first?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa eh, wala pa silang pinapadala eh. Hindi ba our position is they have to settle it among themselves. I think the citizen of this country, especially the voters because election is just coming… forthcoming. I think it—they will not take lightly if there will be no new budget, because it will affect many projects of the government. And that—sino nga iyong congressman na iyon na pinagsasasabi niya? Sabi niya eh, ito daw eh scheme so that daw the—the President daw wants reenacted budget – that’s nonsense. Eh sinasabi na nga natin na maraming problema ‘pag reenacted budget. Ito namang isang kongresistang ito… iyon daw ang gusto namin. Ay naku, they come in all kinds.
MARITA MOAJE/PTV4: Sir, good afternoon. May deadline po ba si Pangulo sa mga congressmen or/and senators about the budget?
SEC. PANELO: Wala naman. Wala naman siyang sinabi, basta sabi niya: “You resolve that on your own.”
MARITA MOAJE/PTV4: Pero what if tumagal pa rin katulad—kasi anong buwan na tayo—
SEC. PANELO: Oh and then… then we prepared to have to do with a reenacted budget; the economic managers naman are prepared for that. The services, basic services will continue, magkakaroon lang ng delay. Iyong sa fourth tranche naman ng mga teachers, nagawan na rin ng paraan iyon. So…
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Sir, sinabi daw po ni President Duterte kay Senate President Sotto that if he does not sign it, then the President will also not sign it. Is that a firm position? Kumbaga, is he really going to—
SEC. PANELO: Ibig sabihin—if he doesn’t sign it, ibig sabihin ‘di walang enrolled bill na makakarating. How can they be submitting an enrolled bill without the signature of the Senate President, ‘di ba? Kailangan parehong pirmado noong dalawa.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Did the President gave his thoughts?
SEC. PANELO: You know, I was sitting with Jaime Laya, former Central Bank Governor, last night and he was telling me that this budget problem could be solved by separating the public works funds from the General Appropriations Bill. They have been doing that daw since many years ago, dapat daw ibalik iyon, tama siya doon, kasi kapag meron daw sa public works, hindi apektado nung whether i-reenact mo o hindi palaging nandoon iyong pondo, nagagamit. Papadalhan niya raw ako ng ginawa niyang article saka iyong mga Republic Acts. Siguro he will recommend that para wala nang problema.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Sir, did the President gave his thoughts to the lawmakers, both Congressmen and Senators on how the impasse should be resolved, specifically doon sa isyu ng itemization?
SEC. PANELO: He is just listening to them. They were discussing. Si Presidente ganoon ang style eh, he just listens to you. I-resolve ninyo iyan, kayo ang may problema, ako wala akong problema.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: But, since it seems that the meeting did not end up with anything or breaking the impasse…
SEC. PANELO: They are meeting again, di ba.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Is there going to be another meeting, with the President?
SEC. PANELO: No, I don’t think so. Sila-sila na lang iyon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, iyon pong sinabi ni Presidente – I wanna elaborate lang sir – Iyong sinabi niya na, “I will not sign if Senator Tito Sotto will not sign it”. What do you think of that statement in terms of the legality of the budget as of now?
SEC. PANELO: Assuming that he said that, kasi hindi ko narinig iyon, if he said that – illogical iyon, because if an enrolled bill is not signed, how can the President signs it.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: In terms of the alignments in the budget, realignments of the budget, what is the President saying when he said that. Is it illegal – the realignments?
SEC. PANELO: Wala naman siyang sinasabi. Basta, you submit your enrolled bill and I’ll go over it – titingnan niya.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So right now, sir nag-intervene na si Presidente ano, intervene, referee or whatever terms.
SEC. PANELO: Actually iyon, kumbaga binigyan niya lang sila ng venue.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: But of course he underscored also that he needs the budget. The government needs the budget.
SEC. PANELO: Yes, of course. In fact, I understand, Secretary of Finance Dominguez was there para sabihin sa kanila, ito ang magiging epekto niyan ha.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Correct. So, sir like last time, the only way to cure this is to do away with the realignment, yes?
SEC. PANELO: Ang problema yata diyan is the members of the House are also complaining: ‘You have realigned’; sa Senado: hindi n’yo rin kami sinali, bakit ano ba ang kaibahan ngayon ng ginawa namin, o di ba? Kaya talagang they should really resolved that. Kasi both of them are accusing each other of realignments.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, sir would you rather that both chambers do away with realignments, so we can have the budget?
SEC. PANELO: They should resolve it among themselves. We will not tell them what to do.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Meanwhile your infrastructure projects are being affected?
SEC. PANELO: Iyon na nga, pero wala tayong magagawa. The Constitution says we do not interfere with them. We can only help, try to persuade them, ask for their patriotism, nationalism and focus on the welfare of the people. As editorials in many newspaper said, kalimutan n’yo na iyang mga bickering’s ninyo, iyong mga personal whatever, gawin n’yo na lang iyong budget.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, one last point. Si Senator Lacson said that because Speaker Arroyo signed that document, which he thinks is illegal, may liability daw po si Speaker?
SEC. PANELO: Ang hindi ko naman maintindihan sa kanila. If there is something wrong with the procedures, why don’t they go to the courts para magkaalamanan na.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, you’d rather that the Senate go to the court if they have questions?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, eh kung sinasabi mong unconstitutional, di ba? It behooves them to file the appropriate charges against whomsoever has committed any violation of any law.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: In this case, it could be the Speaker, yes?
SEC. PANELO: Whoever kung sinong gumawa noon.
CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO/INQUIRER:: Sir, you mentioned that it’s an election year and that people may not take lightly the—
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre because like for instance iyong mga building of bridges, building of roads maapektuhan, di siyempre apektado rin sila.
CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO/INQUIRER:: So, will it affect their reelection bid?
SEC. PANELO: I’m sure kung ang tao ang magsa-suffer, di siyempre maapektuhan lahat iyan.
CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO/INQUIRER:: Are you warning them sir, if ever?
SEC. PANELO: No, I am just telling them—again these are realities that they should consider, because they will be confronted with this issue. Sometimes, I’m thinking nga na dapat siguro wala nang pondo iyang Kongreso. Na hindi ba one time in a news briefing, I said, ‘there should be one department that should be responsible for all the projects all over the Philippines, iyon lang ang trabaho nila, iikot sila para sabihin nila, ito kailangan ng.., di ba?’ Para tingnan natin kung may tatakbo pa sa Kongreso.
Palagi tayong nagiging hostage ng away nila eh!
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, iyong sa tubig po?
SEC. PANELO: Wala hindi ko makita sa dami, ang haba eh.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, ano iyong masasabi ninyo na pagkatapos po nitong shortage sa tubig, bigla pong nagpahayag si Finance Secretary Dominguez na ipu-push iyong Kaliwa Dam project na parang ano daw po, magiging sagot sa krisis ng tubig sa kabila po ng pagtutol ng mga residente ng Quezon at iba’t-ibang environmental groups, pati po iyong simbahan, tumututol sa Kaliwa Dam project?
SEC. PANELO: Well, if it affects the entire community, I don’t think itutuloy iyon. But, you know, I’ve been thinking, palagi tayong nagkakaproblema diyan. Bakit hindi na lang kasi gumawa ng mga reservoir in all cities and provinces, para kapag umuulan, meron tayong palaging naka-reserve. Hindi ko maintindihan ba’t hindi natin magawa iyon, hindi ba?
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Isa po iyan sa mga suggestion nung ibang environmental groups na tumututol sa Kaliwa dam.
SEC. PANELO: Parang kadali namang gawin iyon, it’s a matter of building reservoir as huge as kung gaano kalaki ang isang building, hindi ba? Kasi kapag tag-ulan, ang daming tubig, eh di meron tayong palaging… Eh kanina between us, I was taking a bath, kasasabon ko lang, nawala ang tubig, my goodness! Mabuti na lang, Dra. Panelo nagpabili ng mga balde, meron doon sa tabi kong may balde doon, kaya lang ang lamig naman. So, kailangan magpainit ka pa ng tubig, di habang inaantay mo iyong init ng tubig, kasi ang lamig eh, nasanay ka na sa mainit, grabe.
Q: off mic.
SEC. PANELO: Oo talagang meron. Nawala. I said my goodness!
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Sir, so naligo ka?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, kita mo naman, obvious ba?
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Joke, joke. Ito sir, may sinabi si Presidente kagabi – actually parang second time kong narinig sa kanya – kagabi sinasabi niya na nagalit ang China sa panahon ng administrasyong Aquino pero kagabi may binanggit siya na dahil sa pera – ano ang ibig sabihin niya, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko yata alam iyon, hindi ko narinig iyon at hindi ko alam iyon.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Sinabi niya na inonse ni Trillanes at ni dating Pangulong Noynoy Aquino iyong pera ng China.
SEC. PANELO: I need to see the transcripts so that I can ask the President about it, saan niya sinabi iyon?
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Kagabi sir doon sa Cauayan, Isabela.
SEC. PANELO: Sige, I’ll look for the transcript. Saka—hindi ba, kailan ba ang tag-ulan?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Matagal pa iyon, sir – June.
SEC. PANELO: March, April, May, dalawang buwan.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: El Niño pa iyan sir, matagal iyan.
Sir, okay ganito po. Data from mismong, I think Manila Water ito. So, iyong allocation nila, 2400 million liters, tapos iyon yung sa Maynilad; 1600 naman for Manila Water. And then ang sinasabi nila sir, is that there is parang…basta parang ang nangyayari daw sir, is kulang sila ng allocation from I think a certain dam.
SEC. PANELO: In other words, wala sanang water shortage kung nagbigay ng allocation. Kasi iyon din ang parang pino-point ni Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na lahat ng mga nanggagaling sa Angat Dam eh… wala naman daw problema sa Angat Dam.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Iyon nga sir eh.
SEC. PANELO: Puno naman.
JOSEPH/GMA7: Correct.
SEC. PANELO: So baka naman iyong distribution lang nagka-diperensiya.
JOSEPH/GMA7: So you think sir that ah—this is artificial?
SEC. PANELO: Eh kung totoo na ang Angat Dam is punong-puno at lahat naman nanggagaling doon, oh di hindi nga totoo. So something is wrong with the efficiency in distributing as well as the quotas or the shares.
JOSEPH/GMA7: What are we going to do given this… probably a possibility that it might be a—do you think this is a fake water shortage?
SEC. PANELO: That’s why eh ‘di ba may Executive Order na ginagawa nga to do something about it.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Sir, because the EO sir would of course address future… the future, I mean possible—
SEC. PANELO: Kahit iyong present, hindi lang future pati present.
INA/CNN PHILS.: When you said that it might be a fake water shortage. Can you expound on that?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi nga eh, iyon nga ang sinasabi ni—parang iyon ang gist noong sinasabi ni Secretary Lorenzana eh doon sa kaniyang chat na the water comes from Angat Dam and there is no shortage doon; as far as that particular dam is concerned – puno, walang kulang, so bakit nagkakakulang iyong distribution. So gaya ng sinabi ninyo kanina, kulang iyong ibinigay iyong allocation dito sa parte ng Maynila. Eh iyon ang sigurong alamin natin bakit, ba’t nagkaganoon.
INA/CNN PHILS.: And this position of Secretary Lorenzana is shared by the Palace, the entire Cabinet. Is that right?
SEC. PANELO: No, nabasa ko lang sa chat kahapon, kagabi.
INA/CNN PHILS.: So what is Malacañang position on—
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa, dahil hindi natin alam kung—iimbestigahan nga, kaya nga iimbestigahan kung bakit, ano bang nangyari? What’s the—kasama iyan sa Executive Order eh.
INA/CNN PHILS.: Is Malacañang considering the possibility that this is because of mismanagement of water—
SEC. PANELO: Well, everything will be considered, kasama na lahat iyon.
INA/CNN PHILS.: But the assessment now sir, is there are a lack of water supply coming from the dams?
SEC. PANELO: We are precisely investigating to know exactly what is happening or what’s the cause of the lack of water supply.
INA/CNN PHILS.: Okay, thank you sir.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Sir, alam ba ni Presidente iyong problema na nililikha nitong kakulangan ng supply ng tubig?
SEC. PANELO: Saan galing iyon? Nasaan ba iyong nagsasalita? Natatakpan ka kasi ni Arjay. [laughs]
TUESDAY/NIU: Aware po ba si Presidente na ganito na po iyong nililikhang problema nitong kakulangan ng supply ng tubig?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, kaya nga gagawa ng Executive Order eh.
TUESDAY/DZBB: Can this be also considered as ano sir, economic sabotage, from your legal point of view dahil hindi lang residents ang affected pati many businesses?
SEC. PANELO: Kung totoo na puno ang Angat Water Dam ibig sabihin inefficiency iyan, mismanaged. Iyon lang iyon.
TUESDAY/DZBB: So not an economic sabotage. So iyong concessionaire, sir, puwede silang ma-held accountable for it?
SEC. PANELO: Oh siyempre, kung sila ang may kasalanan. We will make sure that they will be accountable.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Pending the results of investigation sir, what immediate measures if any could be taken by the government considering that the problem has also affected government hospital—
SEC. PANELO: Well, I think they have already made certain steps, like iyong supply may mga oras na para hindi lahat tayo gumagamit ng sabay-sabay. Kagaya nga kanina sabi ko sa inyo, biglang nawalan kami ng tubig doon sa area namin.
Q: [off mic.]
SEC. PANELO: Quezon City. So ibig sabihin nire-redistribute nila para magkaroon nang reserve water. Mukhang from 11 to… 11 yata iyong sabi sa amin eh.
INA/CNN PHILS.: Considering that this is an important… I mean, it’s water. How soon po ang result of the investigation which hopefully will address the problem? How soon?
SEC. PANELO: Well, as soon as we have the findings then we will know—basta it’s current, investigation is under way.
INA/CNN PHILS.: Which office sir is leading the investigation?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung sino ang inuutusan ni Presidente. But it’s coming from the Office of the President.
INA/CNN PHILS.: Thank you sir.
SEC. PANELO: Kayong bang lahat naligo?
CHORUS: Of course. Maynilad kami eh. Maynilad sir mayroon; Manila water ang wala.
SEC. PANELO: Ah kapag Manila lang ba ang—ang Metro Manila mayroon?
CHORUS: Sir, dalawa yung water concessionaire.
SEC. PANELO: Aah.
USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: So ‘wag na kayong mag-inggit. Other issue, Joseph wala na? Okay na tayo?
SEC. PANELO: Pero iyong sinasabi ninyong Maynilad, galing din sa Angat Dam iyon ‘di ba?
CHORUS: Opo.
SEC. PANELO: Exactly, iyon nga eh. Kaya may punto iyong chat na nabasa ko.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ikaw sir, what do you think?
SEC. PANELO: Eh wala eh, sa chat nga iyon ni Secretary Lorenzana eh. Sec. Delfin, tawagan mo nga ako.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero sir iyon nga kung halimbawa iyong isang water concessionaire maraming…
SEC. PANELO: Tubig.
JOSEPH/GMA7: Walang problema, ‘di ba? What’s your theory?
SEC. PANELO: Eh iyon nga, di ba sabi ko inefficiency iyan, mismanaged.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So therefore the water shortage is…
SEC. PANELO: Eh ‘di artificial lang iyon, kung ganoon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Dahil po?
SEC. PANELO: Because if the source is puno, and another concessionaire has puno also. Eh bakit naman iyong isa hindi. Iyon ang logic doon.
TINA MENDEZ/PHIL.STAR: Sir, kasi nagkaroon ng repercussion, mayroon ding shortage ng mga drum, ng timba sa merkado. Mayroon bang kailangan aksiyon na gawin ang gobyerno, like DTI to monitor iyong pricing?
SEC. PANELO: Pricing ng tubig?
TINA/PHIL.STAR: Hindi, ng drum, ng containers. Nagkakaubusan sir ng supply ng mga timba at ng drum.
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre, kasi iyong mga affected areas siyempre bibili ng timba.
TINA/PHIL.STAR: Anong—
SEC. PANELO: I will ask DTI kung anong ginagawa nila.
ARJAY BALIBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, saan daw nakuha ni Secretary Lorenzana iyong information niya?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam eh, basta—
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: Wala siyang cinite? How did he exactly say it? What was the…
SEC. PANELO: Wala eh, mahabang kuwento eh, kaya nga hinahanap ko hindi ko makita eh.
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: So ano iyong response—
SEC. PANELO: Ishe-share ko sa MPC.
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: Opo sir. So ano iyong response ng ibang Secretaries doon sir?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, hindi ko—ako nabasa ko lang kagabi. Hindi ko pa alam.
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: So ikaw sir noong nabasa mo iyon, ano iyong reaksiyon mo?
SEC. PANELO: Wala eh, eh ‘di ang reaksiyon ko, ‘Ha? Ganoon pala iyon. Baka dapat maimbestigahan talaga ito.’
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: Alright. Sir, si President ba part ng chat group?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, kami lang mga Cabinet members.
ARJAY/BUSINESS WORLD: Alright. Thank you sir.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Kasi some were saying that this is used to justify iyong construction ng Kaliwa Dam. Do you think there’s a connection?
SEC. PANELO: Kaliwa ng?
JOSEPH/GMA7: Sir, Kaliwa Dam Project, I think somewhere in Quezon…
SEC. PANELO: No, I don’t want to speculate, hindi ko nga alam iyong Kaliwa Dam na iyan eh.
JOSEPH/GMA7: This is one of the dams that have been—projects that have been—
SEC. PANELO: Sa may ano ba ito, iyong sa Quezon? Laguna?
JOSEPH/GMA7: Yes sir. Also will be funded by China. Kasi ito iyong napirmahan so—
SEC. PANELO: Ang daming kumokontra doon, ‘di ba?
JOSEPH/GMA7: Correct, sir. Do you think there’s a connection? Kasi sinasabi nila is this is being done parang to justify—
SEC. PANELO: Honestly, I don’t know kung may connection.
USEC. IGNACIO: Okay, thank you, MPC. Thank you Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo. Back to our main studio sa Radyo Pilipinas and People’s Television Network.
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Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
