USEC. IGNACIO: Okay, magandang tanghali MPC; kasama na natin si Chief Presidential Legal at Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Good afternoon, MPC. Shoot.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Sir, may we have your reaction on the recent tweet of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin. He said that he reject the suggestion to ship the Canadian waste out—I’ll just read the tweet, sir, para nasa context: ‘It is not our mission to nail those natives who imported Canadian garbage to our country. We will make them miserable for the rest of their natural lives. However, we would check the suggestion to ship them out in a container of garbage, that’s too much pollution.’ You reaction, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin noon? Parang hindi ko yata naintindihan iyon.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Ayaw niyang i-ship out iyong basura.
SEC. PANELO: Paano natin ishi-ship out… Ishi-ship sa sea? Parang… hindi ko maintindihan. Saan natin ilalagay iyong basura? I think you should address that question to him, kasi medyo hindi ko naintindihan eh.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Yes, sir. What do you think of his idea if it—
SEC. PANELO: Baka meron siyang ibang idea na sa halip na container iba ang paglalagyan, iyon ang intindi ko.
But what is important is iyong sinabi niya na, ‘we will make their lives miserable, by sending back those trash.’
ACE ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: Secretary, but how is Malacañang taking his opposition to the President’s directive na i-ship out iyong garbage. Kasi si Presidente galit—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, from what I understand doon sa text, ayaw niyang i-ship out doon sa container, iyon ang intindi ko. Baka iba ang gusto niyang paglagyan, hindi iyong to ship back. Kasi I think he agrees that kailangan ibalik, nagagalit nga siya n0on, di ba?
ACE ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: Will you seek clarification from him about this tweet?
SEC. PANELO: I’ll ask him if I see him. But I would suggest you ask him direct, para mas maganda.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, bukas Labor Day. Meron bang aasahan ang mga manggagawa na good news from the government regarding probably wage hike.
SEC. PANELO: In relation to that, wala pa akong natatanggap na bagong info. Ang alam ko nung nasa Beijing pumayag siyang magpunta roon sa San Fernando. Hindi ko alam kung tuloy iyon o hindi.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: May specific directive po ba si President Duterte regarding wage hike?
SEC. PANELO: None that I know of, baka si ano… si Secretary Bello ang mas nakaka-alam niyan, kasi siya ang kausap eh.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Pero as far as the Palace is concerned, ano iyong stand natin pagdating sa mga petitions or iyong mga gusto ng mga manggagawa na increase sa suweldo?
SEC. PANELO: Eh meron naman tayong wage board di ba. So whatever petitions they will have to file have to go through the wage board.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Would you support, sir, any increase?
SEC. PANELO: Nasa wage board iyan. Kasi ang wage board ang magde-determine niyan eh, kung kailangan o kung hindi depende sa circumstances surrounding whatever petition they have in mind.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Do you have any advice, sir, sa wage board how they should go about these petitions?
SEC. PANELO: They know their jobs.
JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Sir, just follow-up sa sinabi n’yo po. You said that the President will be in San Fernando tomorrow?
SEC. PANELO: Iyon ang alam ko, alam ko pumayag siya na maging speaker siya, hindi ko alam kung tuloy.
JULIE AURELIO/PDI: May we know for what event, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Iyong Labor Day nga sa San Fernando.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, over the weekends, Secretary Bello said that the President will do the groundbreaking of the 400 million state-of-the-art OFW Hospital in—
SEC. PANELO: Tomorrow?
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Yes, sa San Fernando, Pampanga. So is that part of the schedule?
SEC. PANELO: Iyon ang alam kong umoo siya. Hindi ko alam kung tuloy.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, may Pulse Asia result on senatorial candidates and out of iyong sa top 12, 8 candidates most of them are endorsed by the President, tatlo from the PDP and 5 guest candidates of the PDP are included in the top 12. Ano ang tingin natin dito, sir? Ano ang implication na malaki iyong chances ng mga gusto ni Pangulo na manok na manalo?
SEC. PANELO: Oh di ibig sabihin iyong mga tao naniniwala kay Presidente. Naniniwala siya na ang mga tao, na iyong mga i-endorse niya kailangan ni Presidente iyon para tumulong sa kanya sa pagbabangon sa ating bansa sa ilalim ng kahirapan, ng kaguluhan at kung anu-ano pa. It means, malakas ang kanyang endorsement appeal.
At kahit na may manalo doon sa kabila – na hindi i-endorse – ang tingin ko doon, pag ikaw ay pinanalo ng taumbayan, ang mensahe sa iyo: ‘kaya kita pinanalo diyan ay para tulungan mo iyong pinagkakatiwalaan naming Presidente, hindi para manggulo ka. Kaya ka namin ilalagay diyan.’ Iyon ang mensahe sa mga mananalong hindi na-endorse.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: So in relation na doon, iyong federalism. So stronger iyong chance na mahabol pa siya within his term kahit pa may… well natanong nga rin naman kahapon iyong opposition ni Sara Duterte?
SEC. PANELO: Well, as I have repeatedly said, iyong isyu ng federalism would have to depend on the framers of the Constitution and ultimately will depend on the approbation of the Filipino people.
Sa ngayon siyempre there will be competing ideas on whether or not okay ang federalism or hindi, whether or not itong klaseng federalism ang dapat o ibang klaseng federalism. Kumbaga nasa ano pa tayo, debate kung ano ang maganda.
CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Follow up lang sa federalism. What was the response of the President nung sinabi ni Mayor Sara na she’s against federalism?
SEC. PANELO: I haven’t talked to him, but knowing him sasabihin ni Presidente most likely we respect everybody’s opinion on any matter, on any idea. Let a thousand flower be planted… seeds. Tingnan natin kung ano, kanya-kanyang diskarte.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, iyong sa EO lang po ng decommissioning. Executive Order on the normalization aspect of the BOL, the CAB [Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro] … MILF decommissioning, sir?
SEC. PANELO: I haven’t read that. I have not seen a copy, wala pang binibigay sa akin.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Anyway, decommissioning is of course the MILF rebels will return to—
SEC. PANELO: Yes, return the arms.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Any statement on that—how important is this – just to maybe get a sound byte – that we accept them or they return to civilian life?
SEC. PANELO: Well, if there is a program that I’m sure the MILF will follow the procedure as outlined.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: What does it mean, sir, when we have this kind of the activity as far as improving the situation in Mindanao, the peace situation there? What does it symbolize?
SEC. PANELO: That means the MILF has embraced peace with the government and in fact is working hand and hand for the attainment of peace in that area.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. Sir, can I shift to China?
SEC. PANELO: Hmm.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ba’t hindi namin kayo, sir, naramdaman, charing.
SEC. PANELO: Ano iyon?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Wala, sir. All right when we talked to Ambassador Sta. Romana with regard to the presence of the Chinese fishermen in Pag-asa, ang sabi po niya is that both countries – the Philippines and China – agree that we are not threats to each other. Any expectations on any Chinese actions given that statement and after the bilateral meeting with the President—
SEC. PANELO: I do not know what he means by that. What exactly does he mean—
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Meaning, there is no point in staying there because we are not going to be threatening each other. So do we expect any action on the part of the Chinese?
SEC. PANELO: Aaah. Well, as I have said earlier, yesterday, we filed a diplomatic protest of that, right? So I have not been informed whether there has been an official response coming from the other side.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Do we expect them to move away?
SEC. PANELO: I expect them to make a response. I don’t know what response will that be.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: If they don’t move away, is this the kind of response that we are waiting?
SEC. PANELO: Well, if they don’t move away, that is precisely the work of the bilateral mechanism on negotiations – so that we can talk how to deal with it.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Meaning, it can take a while and we’re fine with it?
SEC. PANELO: Well, it may take a while. It may take soon. It may take sooner – depende.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So we’re just going to wait on the Chinese?
SEC. PANELO: Eh kailangan mayroon tayong official response from them, kasi hindi pa natin alam kung anong response nila.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Also, sir—
SEC. PANELO: Kasi ‘di ba, I said, they may even dispute that, they might even say na hindi sa kanila iyon o hindi nila alam iyon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. As of now, sir, wala pa tayong—because you’ve talked to … we’ve seen you talked to Ambassador Zhao, ano?
SEC. PANELO: No, I haven’t talked to—ah, iyong ano lang iyon, tsika-tsika lang iyon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Of course, but you know—
SEC. PANELO: That was tsika-tsika.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: When it’s between two policy makers …
SEC. PANELO: No, we never talked about it. In fact, puro ano lang iyon, kuwentuhang kutsero.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Tsikahan. He didn’t tell you anything about the nature of the Chinese vessels there, characteristics?
SEC. PANELO: No, wala akong … wala siyang sinabi.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right, because Secretary Lorenzana said they’re fishermen according to the Ambassador?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala siyang sinabi sa akin.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Does it change the complexion if they are fishermen? No, because si Ambassador Zhao supposedly told Secretary Lorenzana that those are not militia but fishermen.
SEC. PANELO: Ah, they’re fishermen.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Does it change the complexion?
SEC. PANELO: They’re fishing where? Around our territory?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pag-asa Island, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Which is ours.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yes, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Oh eh di—it will not change the complexion kasi dapat nagpapaalam sila.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Meaning, there is still a violation?
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre, kung atin iyon eh bakit naman sila basta papasok doon.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, you also confirmed that Xi Jinping and President Duterte agreed to disagree or they stood to their own position with regard to the dispute. So what’s the sense of going to bilateral negotiations?
SEC. PANELO: I didn’t say agree to disagree. I said, they agree that whatever irritants or challenges relative to what is happening there will be resolved by way of mechanism of bilateral negotiation. That is what I said.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: But still, President Xi, you said, stood to the Chinese position while the President also stood to his—
SEC. PANELO: Yes, but they are still open, both sides are open. That is why I said, that’s a welcome sign.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: And in the bilateral negotiations, both governments would stand to their own position again.
SEC. PANELO: Yes, but you can—even if—you know, even if you insist on your side of your position, you can still argue and resolve mutually to both satisfaction, to both sides’ satisfaction on how to deal with that problem.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, because there are some experts like Mr. Batongbacal, Professor Batongbacal, saying that the bilateral mechanism is inefficient and it’s about time to bring the issue to a multilateral such as the UN.
SEC. PANELO: He is entitled of his opinion.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: And you still believe that the bilateral mechanism is the most effective—
SEC. PANELO: Of course, yes. You don’t resolve the conflict by going to war or armed hostilities; it will not solve anything. In fact, all the conflicts in the world when not resolved by means of negotiations end up in armed hostilities.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: No, no, the armed conflict is beyond or out of the picture, but on other venue like the UN or any other third party to resolve the issue.
SEC. PANELO: Eh sa ngayon nga, wala namang nagri-resolve ‘di ba? Wala ngang gustong makialam eh. So siguro tayo munang dalawa ang mag-usap.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: Sir, doon sa waiting for the China to officially respond to the last diplomatic protest. How confident are you that a response is actually forthcoming? Because the Foreign Affairs Secretary previously said that China has never responded to any of the protests we filed before, and considering that it’s already been one month since we filed the protest regarding—
SEC. PANELO: Considering that there has been a bilateral meeting between the two heads of the state, and they agreed that they can solve whatever irritants or challenges that confront both sides, then I’m confident that there will be response and there will be a basis for a dialogue or talk or a negotiation between the two countries.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: Or hindi po kaya baka China, since both Presidents agreed to continue dealing with the dispute through bilateral negotiations, will just take that route instead of actually responding doon sa formal protest?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, siyempre they will respond. During the bilateral talks eh di siyempre—if I were part of the panel, eh di iyon ang tanong ko kaagad: “Oh we filed a diplomatic protest, what is your position?” ‘Di ba… that should be the first question in any meeting.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: And if that’s the case, what has our panel been doing in the previous BCM negotiations?
SEC. PANELO: That I do not know kasi I’m not part of the panel.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: Okay. Lastly, sir: How would you describe then, sir, since—is it an impasse now that we’re seeing in Pag-asa Island? Because we’ve called out China for staying there; China has not been moving. Is it an impasse? Is it the right way to describe it?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman, kasi kagaya ng sinabi mo… sabi kamo ni Ambassador Chito, sabi ni Ambassador, hindi naman daw militia ‘di ba, fishermen. Oh eh di medyo may pagbabago ang complexion kasi wala naman pa lang arm. Kumbaga, it’s a question of: “Oh huwag kayong mag-fish diyan, sa amin iyan ah. Bakit ninyo kami inuunahan hindi naman kayo humihingi ng permit.”
So I don’t think may impa—antayin na lang natin, kasi very recent iyong usapan nilang dalawa na they agreed na let’s talk. Let’s wait for that.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, you said on your statement that China has committed to give the Philippines one billion—
SEC. PANELO: Committed to what?
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Committed to give the Philippines one billion Yuan grant.
SEC. PANELO: Yeah.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, do we have an idea already of the nature of the grant?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung ano. I haven’t asked Teddy Boy Locsin about that eh, whether that’s a grant. I don’t want to guess, kasi it could refer to the rehabilitation centers, establishment of that. Hindi ko pa alam kaya I have to talk to Secretary Locsin about it.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Pero it was committed by President Xi during the bilateral meeting?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah. In fact, I was quoting him. ‘Di ba, kinowt (quote) ko siya sa statement. Iyon ang pagkasabi niya, iyon ang pinaka-last na sinabi niya, “China will provide one billion Yuan to the Philippines.” Iyon ang exact words niya.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: On what? He did not say?
SEC. PANELO: Wala siyang sinabi.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Will there be any conditionalities?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t think so. Like for instance, ‘di ba nagpagawa sila ng—mayroon silang kinu-construct na mga libre eh, wala naman silang hinihingi, nagbigay lang sila. Iyong bridge na ginagawa rito sa Makati, I forgot the name of the bridge. Mayroon silang mga ina-undertake na walang bayad eh.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So ano pong status—
SEC. PANELO: Like iyong rehabilitation centers. So hindi ko pa alam. I will have to ask Secretary Locsin ano iyong nature ng one B Yuan.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: But the Philippines has accepted that grant, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Eh wala pa namang … sinabi niya lang magbibigay. Wala pa naman siyang binibigay eh.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: What was the President’s response?
SEC. PANELO: Kasi iyong response niya—saan ba banda iyon? I think the response is, we continue with our friendly terms and negotiation, discussing mutual concerns. General ang mga sagot eh.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, did you say that multilateral negotiation is not an option in resolving the West Philippine Sea issue?
SEC. PANELO: Sa ngayon bilateral muna. Kasi I remember si Presidente noong a year ago, parang hindi siya masyadong hot sa multilateral. Kasi nga eh ang may problema iyong dalawang bansa, di mag-bilateral muna kayo. Siguro if that fails baka maging option iyon, among the claimants.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Is it not failing yet, since nothing—
SEC. PANELO: It’s not what?
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Is it not failing yet, since that BCM has been there for quite some time?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi pa nga nag-uumpisa iyong bilateral negotiation after the meeting di ba.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: It’s started in 2017, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Iba pa iyon. Di ba remember, puwede namang iba ang pinag-usapan nila doon—eh pinipilit mo iyong confined eh. Di ba sabi ko puwede namang—kung iyon krineate, puwede naman nilang pag-usapan iyong ibang usapan doon. Hindi porke’t ‘o iyan pag-usapan na…’ eh kung pareho silang hindi—
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: What would convince the Philippines to take this to a multilateral level?
SEC. PANELO: We will have to wait for the President. The President is the one charters the foreign policy, that is his right and discretion. We cannot be preempting the President on this.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, being a small country and a small economy compared to China, what advantage do we have in the BCM?
SEC. PANELO: Anong BCM?
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Bilateral Consultative Committee (Mechanism).
SEC. PANELO: The advantage there is whatever difference you have, you can settle it by way of that mechanism.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: All right, and we expect China to listen to us.
SEC. PANELO: We expect them to have an open mind.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Sir, this is why yesterday I was asking you kung ano ang bago doon sa bilateral negotiations na napag-agrehan. Is this a mechanism that will be separate from the BCM which we also talked about yesterday?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pang sinasabi kung separate o iyon pa rin.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Because it will be the same… it will have the same purpose, so it’s just going to be – tama po ba – a continuation of the BCM?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung may bago o the same, wala pang—
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Oo nga. Sir, because, again, please explain what new there was doon sa agreement na pag-resolve nung dispute through bilateral negotiations because—
SEC. PANELO: Let’s wait for the President’s directive on that.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: It’s been two years since we started the talks—
SEC. PANELO: We cannot be guessing here, we have to wait for the directive of the President vis-à-vis what happened in that bilateral meeting; siyempre magkakaroon ng directive iyon.
Kung he has made one to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, I am not privy to that.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: But you were there in the bilateral meeting, sir, right?
SEC. PANELO: Oh yeah. Ang bilateral meeting kasi puro prepared statement, wala naman silang pinag-uusapan na—ano?
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Okay. When the Chinese President, sir, told President Duterte that China does not recognize the arbitral ruling, hindi po kaya iyon yung official response nila doon sa ating protest?
SEC. PANELO: Kasi iyong salita nila was made in general statements, parang nag-welcome iyong isa, nag-salita iyong isa, palitan lang, binabasa lang nila eh. Hindi na-discuss iyong mga detalye noon eh, it’s all general.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, we saw you in the bilat ‘no.
SEC. PANELO: Oo, kinunan mo pa ako eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Of course, siyempre. You know that there was an interesting anecdote there, correct?
SEC. PANELO: About what?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: The President cuts short his speech, his prepared speech, to raise the arbitral ruling. Remember that?
SEC. PANELO: No, that is not where he raised the bilateral. Ang sinabi niya, I remember, kinut short niya because—ganito eh, in fact, I told the President—ganito ang predicate, parang sinabi niya, there are irritants there. Tapos idinagdag niya na, parang ang predicate is baka kayo nandoon, dahil baka akala ninyo kami naglalagay ng mga nuclear arms doon at pinapabayaan namin iyong mga Amerikanong pumunta roon. Eh definitely, hindi. Pero as long as President, unang-una sabi niya, that is against the Constitution. So, hindi kami papayag na merong mga nuclear arms o merong mga Amerikano doon na magtata…, iyon ang huminto siya, tapos bumalik na siya ulit.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right. So ito po iyong sinasabi ni Ambassador Sta. Romana na we are irritants, we are not threats to each other, yes, correct?
SEC. PANELO: Iyan ang sabi niya.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. And then sabi yata ni—If I remember it correctly ‘no according to a source, ang sabi is… ang sabi ni Presidente is I will not mention the arbitral ruling but he mentioned all the other incidents in the Pag-asa. Meaning to say, that’s a very crafty way, a very wise way—
SEC. PANELO: He didn’t say it that way. Baka iba ang intindi ninyo.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right. So this is also a Cabinet official.
SEC. PANELO: Sinong Cabinet official?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: I will tell you later, sir. He is maybe nearer to the table than maybe you are.
SEC. PANELO: Eh may mikropono eh, mikropono nasa tenga.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Aah, okay. Before going to China, we’ve had very strong statements ‘no, ‘move away, that’s our property,’ whatever ganyan.
SEC. PANELO: Meron na nga tayong protesta di ba.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Correct, correct. And the President said – when we won in 2016 the arbitral ruling – there is going to be a right time for it to be brought up, correct?
SEC. PANELO: Oh di ba right time na iyon, di ba binanggit na niya nga.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Correct. And the response of President Xi was “sorry we do not recognize the arbitral ruling.” As a friend—
SEC. PANELO: At the same time, sinabi niya rin na—ano ba ang sabi niya, di ba, ‘whatever irritants we have, we can settle that doon sa bilateral negotiations. Moreover, – ang importante sa akin iyong sinabi niya eh – we are allies and allies strengthen each other, do not destroy.’ Oh eh doon lang makikita mo na na… kung talagang magkakaibigan tayo, oh di i-resolve natin iyang conflict natin.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So therefore what actions of China do we see as not strengthening our relationship.
SEC. PANELO: I do not know what actions that they will or it will undertake, basta what I’m telling you is what the President of China said quote unquote. So whatever action they will take, I suppose it should be consistent with what he said during the bilateral.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, iyong meeting po – bilateral meeting with the President and President Xi – a meeting between friends. President Xi said he’s a genuine true friend, President Duterte right?
SEC. PANELO: Not only between friends, between heads of state, between two sovereign countries.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Does he not feel slighted, President Duterte, that he brought up this issue and China only said we do not recognize the arbitral ruling?
SEC. PANELO: How can he be slighted, that has been their position ever since. From the very start, that has been the position of China; and from the very start also, that is also our position that it is ours. Ba’t ka naman mai-slight eh dati na namang position nila iyon.
And then I will repeat: What is important to me is open sila na i-resolve ang dispute doon sa negotiation table. Iyon ang mahalaga sa akin.
NESTOR CORRALES/INQ. NET: Secretary, what concrete gains have we attained since the first BCM meeting in 2017, because the Philippines and China have repeatedly agreed to exercise self-restraint and caution in the South China Sea.
SEC. PANELO: I will not be competent to respond to that because I am not a member of that panel. We’ll have to ask exactly ano bang mga napag-usapan ninyo noon, ano bang hiningi ninyo na binigay o kung hindi man binigay ano ang ginawa nila; kailangan alam natin iyon eh.
NESTOR CORRALES/INQ. NET: But what made you say, Secretary, that bilateral negotiation is still the best option for both countries?
SEC. PANELO: Kasi there’s no other option except to talk because we do not want to engage in armed hostilities, whether small armed hostilities or expanded armed hostilities that will be costly to both sides, especially on our side kasi wala naman tayong kakayahan. So pag-usapan natin.
Kasi I remember, mayroon silang …dati-rati, hindi tayo nakakapasok doon sa isang area eh na nakaka-fish na iyong mga Chinese, iyong mga Filipino fishermen. I remember, kaya iyon ang resulta ng pag-uusap nila noon eh with Secretary Cayetano. So mayroon ding nangyari. Huwag tayong mainip; tingnan natin. Kasi the President—believe me, the President will not be sitting down idly kung walang mangyayari. Pinangako na niya iyon eh, hindi siya papayag. Sa ngayon, mag-usap-usap muna tayo.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, China ulit. Sir, iyong presence ng Chinese vessels, paramilitary vessels in Pag-asa Island, isn’t that an indication that a Bilateral Consultative Mechanism is not working?
SEC. PANELO: First, sabi ni Ambassador Zhao, relayed to Chito, hindi naman daw paramilitary—ano iyon? Hindi naman daw military vessel iyon.
Q: [OFF MIC]
SEC. PANELO: Then they have to respond officially. Kailangan may official response, hindi naman puwede iyong sabi ni ganito, sabi ni ganyan.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Pero, sir, iyong pagpunta doon ng mga Chinese vessels, whether they are paramilitary or fishing vessels, it happened as the Philippines and China are negotiating in the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism which you said is the best approach in the problem. Pero despite these negotiations, nangyari po iyon. So isn’t that an indication that the track that we are pursuing is not effective?
SEC. PANELO: Alam ninyo, pareho rin iyan ng ano ha—let me give an analogy. While we’re talking with the communists, may mga violations ng ceasefire. Parang ganoon din iyan eh. Pero it doesn’t mean na hindi tayo puwedeng mag-usap pa. Kasi may mga reasons sila bakit nag-violate. Sinasabi nila, “Hindi, inatake kami. Nag-rerespond lang kami.” You get the point? So it doesn’t make any indication na failure iyong negotiation.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: It’s just that they cannot prevent violations by the Chinese in the disputed area?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Kaya nga—that’s why I’ve been saying let’s wait for an official stand on the matter on their part. Wala pa eh. I want to have an official stand.
HENRY URI/DZRH: After China, can we talk about illegal drugs?
SEC. PANELO: What?
HENRY URI/DZRH: Illegal drugs tayo, Secretary.
SEC. PANELO: Illegal drug.
HENRY URI/DZRH: May confirmation na ba kayo doon sa sinabi ni Secretary Guevarra kahapon na may offer ang Palace na ten million para sa mas mabilis na pagkahuli kay Col. Acierto?
SEC. PANELO: I have no info on that officially. Eh si Secretary Guevarra ang nagsabi, I suppose siya ang may kausap sa Palasyo.
HENRY URI/DZRH: He said his information came from the Office of the President.
SEC. PANELO: Kaya nga, then you should ask him instead of me. Kasi hindi ako—
HENRY URI/DZRH: So as a Spokesperson of the President, walang binabanggit sa’yo ang Pangulo?
SEC. PANELO: Exactly, wala nga eh. Baka siya ang kinausap. Kasi nasa Justice department iyon eh, area niya talaga iyon eh.
HENRY URI/DZRH: All right. Itong mga suspek sa illegal drugs, to be specific, si Peter Lim, anong information na ho natin kay Peter Lim ngayon?
SEC. PANELO: Wala akong alam. I will have to ask General Albayalde, the PNP Chief.
HENRY URI/DZRH: All right. Are we expecting, Secretary, na maglalabas din ng mas malaking reward money ang Malacañang for Peter Lim? Because I understand, 2018 mayroong 500,000 na patong na sa ulo si Peter Lim. And sabi ng CIDG, siya po iyong number one source of shabu sa Region VII and VIII. Wala bang plano ang Palasyo na patungan din siya ng malaking reward money para mabilis na mahuli itong si Peter Lim?
SEC. PANELO: I’ll ask the President during our Cabinet meeting.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Alright. We will wait for your answer. Thank you.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: Sir, the Department of Energy is suggesting or saying that there might be a need to extend iyong holiday declaration in time for the elections. Baka raw po kailanganin na i-declare din na holiday iyong May 14 to ensure na hindi po magkakaroon ng brownout when votes are being tallied.
SEC. PANELO: I don’t know about that. Parang ngayon ko lang narinig iyan ah. Kay Secretary Cusi?
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: Hold on. Sa DOE, sir. Sino ba ito? Is the Palace open to that idea?
SEC. PANELO: The Palace will listen to whatever idea that is presented to it, and will respond and act.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHIL: Pag-aaralan iyon, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, hindi pa nga iyan—I don’t think the President knows about it.
Q: [OFF MIC]
SEC. PANELO: Wala kang mapag-aaralan kung hindi mo pa natatanggap. Kung natanggap muna, saka mo pag-aaralan.
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: Sir, good afternoon po. Sir, quick reaction lang po doon sa call ni Senator Gordon to probe the influx of foreign doctors practicing in the country.
SEC. PANELO: To probe the influx of?
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: Foreign doctors.
SEC. PANELO: Foreign doctors?
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: Pinapaimbestigahan po niya.
SEC. PANELO: Oh di imbestigahan. Ano bang masama doon?
TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: No, sir, but from illegal workers tapos ngayon doctors. Parang saan po kaya tayo nalulusutan, in that sense?
SEC. PANELO: Unang-una, baka tayo rin ay may influx din ng mga doctors – nawawala rin sa PIlipinas. ‘Di ba, ang daming mga doktor na nagpupunta sa ibang bansa, baka kulang na tayo kaya nakakapasok sila. Kaya tama iyon, he should really investigate the whys and the wherefores of this influx of foreign doctors in the country para malaman natin.
SONSHINE TV: Good afternoon, sir. Ano po ang masasabi ninyo sa pagpapatigil po ng Ako Bicol Party List sa provincial bus ban sa EDSA po?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ba MMDA iyon, ang nag-decide noon. Hindi naman iyong partidong iyon.
Q: [OFF MIC]
SEC. PANELO: Oo, but the MMDA ‘di ba granted it. It’s experimental as explained by MMDA. Experimental pa lang daw. Optional nga eh, hindi naman daw mandatory.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: May mga Labor Day rally po against the, well, the President. Iyong taun-taon na … any comment? Iyong mga calls nila na anti-labor policies, iyong effect ng TRAIN Law, mga endo bill—
SEC. PANELO: It’s their right to protest. You can even join them. You can even join them if you feel like joining.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: It’s a holiday, sir. So I’m taking a day off. Okay, thank you.
USEC. IGNACIO: Okay. Thank you, Secretary Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Thank you.
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SOURCE: PCOO – NIB (News and Information Bureau)
