USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: Good noon MPC; kasama na natin si Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Good day ladies and gentlemen; and Happy Birthday Virgil. Virgil, Happy Birthday. Thank you for the pansit. [laughs]
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, good afternoon. Sir, may report na po iyong NBI tungkol sa ‘di umano’y pag-aresto kay Bikoy?
SEC. PANELO: Wala kaming alam doon eh.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Ahh…
SEC. PANELO: Nag-issue na ako ng statement kahapon, iyong mga tanong sa akin eh. We don’t know anything about it.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Iyong pagkaaresto sir ng NBI kay Bikoy?
SEC. PANELO: Walang nagsasabi sa amin—sa akin.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Ah okay, thank you.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Secretary, but how is the Palace taking those reports na mayroon na daw ‘person of interest’ nasa kamay na ng NBI reportedly?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa nga eh. Until such time, we cannot make any response. We have to get a report officially.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: So, hindi pa kayo nai-inform noong NBI?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi pa, as far as I know.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Okay. Sige, Sec.
VIRGIL LOPEZ/GMA NEWS ONLINE: Sir, follow up lang doon sa statement ninyo yesterday na it’s totally unnecessary for the government to come up with proof—
SEC. PANELO: For now.
VIRGIL LOPEZ/GMA NEWS ONLINE: Pero sir, ‘di ba—iyon nga, the—iyong burden of truth kasi is on the accuser ‘di ba sir; not on the accused. So, why is it not necessary to—?
SEC. PANELO: Wala naman kaming ina-accuse pa. Sinasabi lang namin na mayroon kaming alam na ginagawa ninyo, ‘di ba? Kaya nga sinasabihan natin kayo na, “Hanggang diyan na lang muna iyong plano ninyo.” Kasi kung you perform overt acts that will fall within the Revised Penal Code as crimes, then we will prosecute.
VIRGIL LOPEZ/GMA NEWS ONLINE: But, at least sir iyong—substantiate lang iyong allegations perhaps nung nandoon sa matrix. Hindi ba enough iyon, like puwedeng i-present—
SEC. PANELO: I’ll give you example. Halimbawa sinabihan mo ako, “Uy mayroong papatay sa iyo.” “Sino?” “Si ‘A’.” “Talaga?” O tapos i-announce ko, “O may papatay daw sa akin, si A.” Oh, do I need to give proof kung anong gagawin mo sa akin? Eh kung iyon lang ang sinabi mo sa akin eh, ‘di ba? At least by announcing it, pini-preempt mo na siya.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Sir, but with the arrest of this person of interest, what charges would you like filed against this person?
SEC. PANELO: Sino? Iyong sinasabi ninyong Bikoy?
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: The person na, who uploaded the Bikoy videos.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa alam eh. I cannot make any response. First, hindi natin alam kung sino iyong sinasabi nilang inaresto – whether iyong si Bikoy or somebody who just uploaded the video. Kasi what I read sa news is iyong nag-upload not necessarily iyong Bikoy, so hindi natin alam.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Okay. But considering sir that last week you came out with this matrix alleging that they’re part of an ouster plot. What could they be—ano ang—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi natin—kasi iniimbestigahan ‘di ba. The NBI apparently is investigating it, the PNP is investigating it. So if they discover anything that will fall as a violation of the Revised Penal Code, that’s a different story.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Sir you said, you will not be coming up with a proof – not now… eventually.
SEC. PANELO: O, ‘pag nakademanda na. Eh kung mayroon nang demanda, ‘di talagang you have to substantiate your charge.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Uhum. But by naming people and accusing them of a serious—a crime, hindi ba dapat the proof already came before?
SEC. PANELO: We are not even—eh you’re the one saying we’re accusing them of a crime. We are telling them that, “Hoy, mayroon kaming alam na pinaplano ninyo to unseat the President” – that’s not a crime as of now. Pareho rin ‘yan when I plan to kill anybody, it’s still not a crime. You can conspire to kill any one; it’s still not a crime.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: But it just goes back kasi sir to the question of what is your basis for saying this eh which we have been—
SEC. PANELO: O hindi ba sinabi nga ni Presidente, gaya noong sina—in my statement I said, when he says it comes from a foreign source, it could mean that the foreign source got it from a local source and just relaying it to him. It could mean that somebody, a local source heard it from them and relaying it to him, ‘di ba? Hindi natin alam exactly eh, wala naman siyang dinetalye sa atin kung sino talaga nagbigay kanya.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Pero Sec., okay, assuming na hindi naman crime iyong allegation ninyo ‘no, pero it’s still a serious…
SEC. PANELO: Hmm?
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: You know, it’s a serious matter to claim na may plot to oust.
SEC. PANELO: Exactly, kaya nga—that’s precisely we informed the public and them.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: But then, sabi ninyo hindi—
SEC. PANELO: In other words, that’s a preemptive move so that whatever plans they have, eh hindi na nila itutuloy.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Pero hindi naman verify, sabi ninyo no need to verify considering that it’s a serious matter.
SEC. PANELO: I didn’t say that no need to verify. What I said is we don’t need to—
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Validate, rather.
SEC. PANELO: —show proof about the conspiracy. What we’re saying is we’re just telling you that we know of your plans. So, we’re putting you on notice that better not push through with it because if you perform overt criminal acts, then that is the time for you to be prosecuted. So if you want to escape criminal responsibility, just forget about it.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: But considering that’s a serious claim, hindi ba parang mas maayos kung may proof tayo para lalong lumakas iyong argument ninyo na oops, mayroon ngang plan to oust the President.
SEC. PANELO: Eh gaya na nga—‘di ba iyong example ko sa’yo. Noong sinabihan mo akong may papatay sa akin, di sinabihan ko, “O papatayin daw ako ni ganito…” I don’t have to tell them kung ikaw mismo ang nagsabi sa akin, dahil baka maano ka pa. Baka ikaw naman ang puntahan ng papatay sa akin kung mayroon man, ‘di ba?
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Okay Sec., thank you.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Alright sir, let’s set the record straight. I’m interested in the provenance of the information. You said in your statement that it is from a foreign source, we stand by that, yes?
SEC. PANELO: What?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: You said the information about the ouster plot is from a foreign source.
SEC. PANELO: That’s what the President said.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. Number one, foreign source. How was it obtained, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Iyon na nga ang sabi ko sa inyo, when you say it came from a foreign source, there are possibilities on how that was sourced.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Can you say that [overlapping voices] how it was sourced or…
SEC. PANELO: No, sinabi lang naman ni Presidente. Exactly how did the President say it?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay.
SEC. PANELO: Can you quote him? Ano bang… Hindi, hindi ko narinig iyong exact na sinabi niya. Ano bang sinabi niya?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: I don’t know. He gave you the list, right?
SEC. PANELO: Oh, he just gave—no, he just told me to discuss the matrix.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. And as far as obtaining that ouster plot is concerned, did he mention how it was obtained?
SEC. PANELO: No, he did not mention.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Alright. The Bikoy arrest, at least persons behind the video—
SEC. PANELO: That what?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: The arrest po.
SEC. PANELO: Of?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: What is also established now is the NBI is saying that there is a person of interest, not necessarily Bikoy who was on the video. There was a POI, person of interest—
SEC. PANELO: Has the NBI confirmed that?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Correct. Yes, sir. And also your Justice Secretary.
SEC. PANELO: Alright.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Alright, cool. Now, the arrest of somebody—Okay, first I’ll go back. Bikoy is related to the ouster matrix, yes? Tama, sir?
SEC. PANELO: From the matrix, yes.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And just to get a soundbyte from you, how is he related to the whole ouster plot? Meaning, what is his role and what is his—
SEC. PANELO: Eh parang it would appear from the matrix that galing sa kaniya iyong stores na trinansfer doon sa mga nandoon sa matrix.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ano po iyong galing sa kaniya, sir?
SEC. PANELO: O, eh ‘di iyong mga sinasabing ouster plot, tapos iyong paninira sa gobyerno, lahat na iyon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. So, are you saying sir that the Bikoy video is part of the ouster plot?
SEC. PANELO: I do not know. Hindi ko alam.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: To repeat sir, what is—
SEC. PANELO: No personal knowledge.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay, so what is – I’m laying the predicate for my next question, what is the role of Bikoy in the ouster plot, sir?
SEC. PANELO: I do not know also.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Now, with the arrest of somebody who is part of the video, do you think that the ouster theory is strengthened or weakened?
SEC. PANELO: You are assuming that that person in interest is already part of the video: When you say person of interest, ibig sabihin parang ang presumption nila – ‘baka’. Kumbaga – probably – hindi pa nila alam iyon eh, they haven’t told us exactly ano ang participation ng ina-aresto nila eh, kaya nga iniimbestigahan nila.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Meaning to say, the person who uploaded it may not have knowledge of the ouster plot, is that what you’re saying?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko nga alam eh, exactly I do not know his participation, the NBI hasn’t told me or anybody.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: I wonder why, bakit hindi po kayo sinabihan.
SEC. PANELO: Why don’t you ask them? Hindi natin alam, eh sa kanila nanggaling eh, hindi sa amin eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, sir the arrest of the POI – person of interest, does not have any implication on the veracity?
SEC. PANELO: We do not know that yet. Because the NBI has not made any official report on the arrest, as well as what is the participation of that person-in-interest.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: But of course, Malacañang is interested.
SEC. PANELO: To know?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Correct, as to who is behind, of this video, yes?
SEC. PANELO: Me? I will be interested.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: The President also?
SEC. PANELO: I will ask him.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Well, di ba nag-offer ng 10 million, ahh hindi pala, iba pala iyon.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam iyong 10 million. Si Acierto iyon!
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ngayon, wala tayong interest sir, doon sa POI ngayon, parang okay lang.
SEC. PANELO: What we should do is just to wait for an official report on the investigation and why did they arrest this person in interest; exactly what is his participation; what proof do they have, so that we can file the necessary, appropriate charges against him kung meron man. Sa ngayon, we will be speculating, we will be, puro guesses lang tao ngayon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Kasi si Mayor Sara was asked if she is interested in filing any case against this person and she said ‘no’. The person doesn’t have depth and she doesn’t care.
SEC. PANELO: Oh di ba sinabi ko rin iyon noon na, nung tinanong ninyo ako: will you file, sabi ko ‘they can do their worst, we just do our best’.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Will the President—is the President interested in filing any cases?
SEC. PANELO: Oh di ba sinabi ko na sa inyo. As of now, as we said, we will repeat: ‘they can do their worst, but we will do our best’. Except only if they pursue that and in the process, they will be performing criminal overt acts.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, even with the arrest of this person, the President is not interested in filing any cases?
SEC. PANELO: Sinabi ko na nga sa inyo eh, depende nga kung ano nga ang sasabihin ng NBI.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Ah depende. Okay, so puwedeng, yes?
SEC. PANELO: Kung sabihin nilang involved eh, the President doesn’t even have to instruct them to file, because that’s their job, to file criminal cases against those who violate the law, di ba.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So open to filing charges – the President himself ha?
SEC. PANELO: I will repeat: the President doesn’t have to instruct any police agency to file any case. It is the duty of the police enforcement agencies to file cases against violators of the law.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: But sir, regardless kung iyong naaresto nga po or whoever is in the custody on the NBI ay Bikoy or iyong nag-upload. What do you want, I mean, iyong prosecution doon sa whoever actually is behind the videos.
SEC. PANELO: We will for the report. Hindi natin alam eh, kasi puro nga nag- i-speculate, everybody is speculating. We will just wait for the official report and then the police or the NBI will have to do their duty.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Sir, doon sa matrix na binigay ninyo, so the Bikoy video is there, obviously whoever is behind it, is implicated there, why is it easy for Malacañang to say that the media companies there have a role in the ouster plot.
SEC. PANELO: Maybe the President believes in the source, kung sinuman ang nagbigay sa kanya.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: No, no, my point is, kanina nung tinatanong po kayo about mga role noong Bikoy or whoever is behind Bikoy, sabi mo you don’t know.
SEC. PANELO: Umm.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Why is it you don’t know pagdating doon sa Bikoy pero pagdating po doon sa reporters, bahagi sila, they are relaying as you mentioned.
SEC. PANELO: Kahit sa reporters, hindi ko rin alam. I’m not privy to that eh. I’m just relaying the message.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: But, isn’t Bikoy whoever is behind it, the central personality in the entire..?
SEC. PANELO: We don’t know that. It’s the President who gave that report to the public. Now, we don’t know exactly how he got it. Di ba sabi ko sa inyo, puwedeng galing sa isang local source, binigay sa kanyang source, ni-relate sa kanya. Puwede rin iyong grupong iyon nag-uusap sila, ayaw nung isa, ibinalita sa iba. Iyong iba naman binalita sa kanya, ganoon.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Okay, but kanina sabi mo, may quote. So I found the quote. Ang sabi ni Presidente it was an intelligence report not from us, not from us but from another country?
SEC. PANELO: Kaya nga, that’s why, hindi ba in-explain ko doon sa statement ko na hindi porke’t galing sa isang foreign country eh sila na ang nakakuha. Puwedeng ni-relay lang sa kanila coming from a local source eh.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Are you saying that the President did not ask or validate if galing ba sa inyo talaga iyan.
SEC. PANELO: Sabi niya sa akin, if they question tell them to ask me, so I’m relaying to you the message.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS.: Because it’s been more than a week, sir and we still have yet to get more details on the alleged…
SEC. PANELO: Kasi nga it’s just a plan, it’s an idea, eh if they will pursue it, di bahala sila.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, the matrix came from the President. Therefore he is interested in the arrest of Bikoy. Can we say that?
SEC. PANELO: Not necessarily.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Really.
SEC. PANELO: Eh kung sinasabi niya, eh plano lang.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: He is not interested in the arrest of Bikoy?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko sinasabing he is not. I’m telling you that, iyong assumption mo hindi conclusive. Puwedeng interesado, puwedeng hindi. Let’s ask him.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: But what is his instruction to the authorities with regards to Bikoy because even his daughter, Veronica..?
SEC. PANELO: Again I will repeat, the President need not instruct anyone, because all these agencies know their duties and their functions.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, you said that iyong sa ouster matrix.
SEC. PANELO: Doon pa rin tayo, okay.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Of course. Iyong ouster matrix, you said it is a plan and you want to communicate to those involved na we are watching you, correct?
SEC. PANELO: That we know of your plan.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, what exactly, so far is the plan? How are they proceeded?
SEC. PANELO: Teka muna, when we say, we know of your plan, actually I’m saying, the President knows of your plan.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Of course, yeah, stronger. Now how is the plan, what is the plan? Like siyempre, so ang involved dito sir, allegedly are media persons, right. How exactly are they going to topple the President based on the matrix?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t know, you will have to ask the President because he told me, if they have questions tell them to ask me.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, when he gave it to you… Okay sir, ganito na lang, simplify natin. Noong binigay po sa inyo, ang sabi lang sa inyo exactly is what?
SEC. PANELO: Ano – ano?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Noon pong binigay sa inyo, oh, Sal ito iyong—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, wala siyang binigay, hindi naman siya ang nagbigay basta may nagpadala a akin ng matrix. Hindi ba sabi ko sa inyo may nagpadala sa akin ng text, hindi ba pinakita ko nga sa inyo, nasa telepono ko eh. That was sent to me, may nagtanong nga, sir sino ang nagpadala, ewan ko kung saan.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right, sir. Let’s just established once and for all, okay iyon pong origin nung ouster matrix. You said, all the while we thought that it was from the President himself and then give it to you and then meron pa kayong soundbyte na.
SEC. PANELO: No, what I said—ito ha, ito: He asked me to discuss it in the briefing – iyong matrix. And then, somebody sent me a matrix, oh eh di iyon ang niri-refer niyang matrix. Wala namang ibang matrix.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right, okay, sir. Establish natin the facts: President calls you, text?
SEC. PANELO: Ano?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: The President called you or texted you?
SEC. PANELO: Nag-usap kami.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Personally?
SEC. PANELO: No, telepono.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay, so telepono, sir. May we know when this is?
SEC. PANELO: Hmm, Holy Week.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay, nice. And then he said, Secretary—what did he tell you?
SEC. PANELO: Iyong sinabi niya nga, “You touch on the matrix in your news briefing tomorrow.”
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And then when that conversation happened, you had a context of what matrix he was talking about?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, iyong sinabi niya, apparently there is an ouster plot against me and there is a matrix. Iyon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And you knew na already that there was matrix?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, sinabi niya lang may matrix. Sabi ko, what is this matrix? Oh somebody siguro will send you whatever … kung ano iyong matrix na sinasabi nila. ‘Di ba pinakita ko sa inyo eh, sa telepono ko.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Tama, sir. And then after that phone call, you got the …
SEC. PANELO: And then after that, we never talked about it.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay, sir. Now, what happened? Did you get a matrix as communicated by the President?
SEC. PANELO: Iyong pinakita ko sa inyo last time.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Iyong ano, sir, iyong network ‘di ba?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Right. So you got it from, would you be able to reveal the source?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam, kasi walang ano eh … walang numbers nga eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And you immediately trusted that, sir, that it was the President’s—
SEC. PANELO: Well, kasi noong makita ko iyong Manila Times, mukhang pareho eh, ito na iyon, wala nang iba.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, sir, you have two sources – Manila Times and then somebody texting you the matrix, sir?
SEC. PANELO: No, kinumpare [compare] ko lang. Sabi ko, this must be the same.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right. So what exactly did you receive from your phone, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Kung ano iyong pinakita ko sa inyo.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Iyong matrix; iyong picture from an unknown source.
SEC. PANELO: Basta hindi siya naka-record sa aking ano eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Hindi ninyo po kilala, baka—okay. And then you immediately trusted that number?
SEC. PANELO: Matrix ang pinag-uusapan eh, mayroon pa bang ibang matrix. There is only one matrix na pinag-uusapan—
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yeah, question ko sa inyo, sir, you immediately trusted the source?
SEC. PANELO: Ng alin?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Nung matrix. Kasi prior to that sabi ni President, may matrix na lalabas.
SEC. PANELO: Nobody disputed what I said during the news briefing, so obviously it’s the same matrix. Otherwise di sinabi ni Presidente, “Hoy, hindi iyan ang matrix.”
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: No, ang question ko, sir, is that we believed na iyong matrix na dumating sa inyo is the matrix that was referred to by the President?
SEC. PANELO: Kasi nasa Manila Times pareho din, eh ano pa bang ibang pag-uusapan. It would be different kung mayroong lumabas pang isa at hindi pareho sa natanggap ko.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And then, as far as how this matrix is going to parang be actualized, we don’t have any information on that?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, definitely wala.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Would you say, sir, at this level, this is black propaganda?
SEC. PANELO: Which one?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: The matrix.
SEC. PANELO: I don’t think so because it came from the President. The President has many sources. And the President, knowing him as a man of intellect, a probing mind, a thinking President, he will not just release any information that he has not validated.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: You know, sir, back in the Arroyo administration, there was similar case ‘no.
SEC. PANELO: Who?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Arroyo administration.
SEC. PANELO: Arroyo.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yes, sir. I was young then. May umugong—
SEC. PANELO: You were younger then; because you’re not yet old.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: [laughs]—Mayroong umugong na there’s going to be an ouster plot against the former President; maybe sometime mga three o’clock, four o’clock iyan, umugong iyan ‘di ba. And then before the newscasts happened, around six, six thirty they were announcing all the people that were supposedly involved in that plot—
SEC. PANELO: Ano iyan military?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yes. And they were able to arrest them.
SEC. PANELO: O, siguro mayroong—eh military pala, eh di ibig sabihin may armas. Ibig sabihin ay talagang may plot na ano.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: But at that point, I don’t think there was an overt act yet.
SEC. PANELO: Malay mo. How would you know? Would you know what an overt act—
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: (Unclear), sir, is saying conspiracy to commit rebellion, a coup d’etat. Conspiracy, conspiracy to commit—
SEC. PANELO: O, eh kung iyon ang conspiracy, eh di may crime eh talagang dapat silang arestuhin.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right, let’s go to this matrix now.
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa nga eh. Iyon nga ang sinasabi ko sa’yo – plano.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So there’s no event—that’s not even a crime in the ouster matrix?
SEC. PANELO: Saan?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: These people who are in the matrix, are they committing any crime?
SEC. PANELO: Sinasabi ko na nga sa inyo, it’s still a plan. That’s why we’re telling them, “Do not pursue with your plan. Do not commit overt criminal acts that will ripen into a crime.”
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Such as?
SEC. PANELO: Oh ano ba? Ang daming crime – it could be rebellion, it could be assassination. Nagplano na kayo eh, ito na, ganyan, ganito ang gagawin. Mayroon ng mga overt acts na ginawa pursuing your plot, oh di that means may crime ka na.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right. But at this level – last question – those people who were mentioned in the matrix—
SEC. PANELO: Alam mo, if you’re not doing anything, you cannot be scared of anything. They cannot be saying that they’re being threatened. My goodness! They’ve been saying all these negative, vociferous, vicarious, negative things against the President, hanggang ngayon sinasabi pa rin, wala namang gumagalaw sa kanila. They’re saying, they’re intimidating na—eh sa lahat naman ng intimidated ang tapang ninyo ay nandoon pa rin. Nothing has changed.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, I will not speak for those who were mentioned. But my question now is: at this level, are they committing any crimes?
SEC. PANELO: Paulit-ulit na tayo. ‘Di ba sinabi ko na sa’yo, wala nga pa kaya nga walang prosecution eh.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, just to put on a record also. So now you are saying na the matrix that is shown to us came from a text or a message in your phone?
SEC. PANELO: From ano?
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: The matrix that you discussed last April 22 came from a text, not actually a document given to you by the President?
SEC. PANELO: No, sa telepono lang.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Kasi, sir, I remember—just to ma-avoid iyong misquote. Sabi mo dito sa April 22 briefing natin, “The source of that is from the Office of the President, from the President himself. I don’t know how he got one, but it’s coming from the President. I talked to him the other day.”
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, ang niri-refer ko iyong—hindi ba pinag-uusapan natin noon ay si Dante Ang?
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: No, it’s the matrix and Dante Ang’s—
SEC. PANELO: Exactly. We were talking about how Dante Ang got hold of that. And I said, siya mismo ang nagsabi na it came from the Office of the President eh. Tingnan mo iyong article niya.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Tapos mayroon ka ring sinabi, sir, na, “The President … here’s the matrix, discuss to the media.” So it’s clear sa briefing natin noon na it’s from the Office of the President as being quoted here in the transcript.
SEC. PANELO: According to Dante Ang, it came from the Office of the President, ‘di ba. He wrote about it. The President also told me to discuss it or to touch on my news briefing. Eh di ibig sabihin, the same … pare-pareho lang iyon.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Ah, okay. So you are—
SEC. PANELO: Ang tanong ko naman sa’yo: o what naman kung galing nga doon? Eh di ba tinouch (touched) niya na nga iyong matrix.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: At least it’s very clear now na you are taking as hook, line and sinker the word of Dante Ang or his article?
SEC. PANELO: The what?
Q: [OFF MIC]
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, basta sa article niya, sabi niya, ‘Sourced from the Office of the President said ganyan.’ Iyon ang nakalagay sa article niya eh.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So your basis is the article of Dante Ang?
SEC. PANELO: What do you mean … basis on what?
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Of the matrix.
SEC. PANELO: Iyong matrix ko, natanggap ko dito. And I reasonably assumed that that was the matrix mentioned by the President. And when I mentioned that in the news briefing, since he did not dispute that or corrected me, so it means it’s the same matrix that he referred to me to touch upon in the news briefing.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So it could be Dante Ang the source of the matrix?
SEC. PANELO: Ano ba ‘yan.
TINA: Sir, since you mentioned na walang overt act, etc., is it safe to say also na walang business and military component itong particular alleged plot?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam. Wala akong alam. I have no personal knowledge.
TINA: So, sir, sa pagkakaalam ninyo pa rin, kahit wala kayong personal knowledge baka napag-usapan ninyo doon sa meeting where napag-usapan iyong matrix. So ang extent nito iyon lang sa mga identification ng mga some journalists involved in the alleged …
SEC. PANELO: Actually, hindi ko nga rin alam iyong mga pangalan ‘di ba, kasi iyong pinadala sa akin eh ang labo. That’s why I asked the staff, sabi ko, ‘Kumuha kayo ng ano, doon sa Manila Times medyo maliwanag para makita kung sino iyong mga pangalan.’ No, kasi it’s the same eh. Ang problema sa inyo, naghahanap kayo ng wala. Ang sinasabi ko sa inyo—kasi ‘di ba nakita mo, nakita ninyo, malabo. Kapag zinoom mo, hindi mo makikita ang pangalan eh. That is why I asked my staff, ‘Kumuha kayo nang mas klaro.’ How will you get it? Sa Manila Times klaro. So ini-screenshot, dinownload, oh di makikita mo na ang mga pangalan.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sir, one clarification: Are you saying that this government gets information from secondhand sources and, like iyong mga unverified reports?
SEC. PANELO: Paanong government source, anong ibig mong sabihin?
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Unverified source. Unverified source, secondhand, hearsay kasi wala kayong personal knowledge tapos ni-relay ninyo sa media, ni-relay ninyo sa amin and you were saying there are—
SEC. PANELO: Ah, no. My job as Presidential Spokesperson is to relay whatever the President tells me to do. He told me to touch on the ouster plot and I did that.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sir, we’d like to believe that as a Chief Legal Presidential Adviser eh you also speak based on facts and…
SEC. PANELO: Of course! Exactly! What are the facts? The President told me – that is a fact.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Thank you, sir.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hi, sir. Sir, sino po iyong nagbigay ng title na ouster plot doon sa matrix? Kasi it seems sir iyong matrix na binigay ninyo o pinakita ninyo noon, parang shinare (share) lang nila iyong video ni Bikoy. Eh napakarami po noong nag-share noon.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko alam iyong word na ouster plot.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Oo. Kasi po kung ouster plot, may mga nagpaplano, may operational plan, ‘di ba; may iba’t ibang component – iyon po ‘yung ouster, ‘di ba? Pero iyong mere sharing po noong video, papaano pong natawag na ouster plot na iyon?
SEC. PANELO: Ah, hindi ko alam kung sino iyong nag-coin ng ‘ouster plot’.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Pero kayo po, doon po sa matrix na iyon—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ba sa article lumalabas iyon, saka sa inyo rin, iyong mga ouster plot.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hindi po, sa inyo nanggaling iyon eh. Sa inyo ‘yun eh. Papaano ninyo nabigyan ‘yan ng titulong ‘ouster plot’ kung mere sharing lang po noong video ni Bikoy?
SEC. PANELO: O eh ano naman, eh kung sinabi mo—
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sa video po ni Bikoy, wala naman siyang sinasabing ouster—
SEC. PANELO: When you say ouster plot, ‘di may plano to oust. O ‘di ganoon din iyon. Ano ba…
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Mere sharing po noong video, ouster plot na iyon?
SEC. PANELO: No… Ang sinabi ni Presidente mayroong ganoon, so i-touch ko daw kaya tinouch ko naman. Now if you have questions on that, he told me “Tell them to ask me, kasi ako lang ang nakakaalam noon.”
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: Sir, you’ve mentioned many times na wala po kayong alam. But it was very easy for you to conclude that there is indeed an ouster plot.
SEC. PANELO: Because I believe the President when he says there is. He’s an authority. He is the Chief Executive of the land. He has unlimited sources of information.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: But as a lawyer sir, what are you supposed to do to verify information given to you of the President?
SEC. PANELO: I don’t have to verify what the President told me, because he is the President. President does not lie about these things.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: He jokes…
SEC. PANELO: Ah, he was not joking.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: Uhum… How did you know that he was not joking?
SEC. PANELO: He told me na… You, know, when the President says something that make you laugh and obviously it’s meant to be a joke, it’s a joke.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: How do you know that the President is not lying?
SEC. PANELO: The President does not lie on anything; on serious matters especially it involves the work of the President. He’s a very honest man.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: Thank you.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sir, mayroon lang mga tanong bakit daw napakataas ng bounty na binibigay kay Col—dismissed Police Officer Acierto?
SEC. PANELO: Ah, hindi ko alam iyon, I don’t know, it didn’t come from me. Kanino ba galing iyon?
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: OP raw sir, ten million.
SEC. PANELO: Guevarra? O, eh tanungin natin si Secretary Guevarra.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Hindi sir, it’s coming from OP. Why put such premium sa a certain Acierto?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam. I have no knowledge on that ‘ten million bounty’.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Hanggang ngayon sir, two days na?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala. After doon wala na akong narinig eh.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sir, since mas malapit kayo sa Pangulo, open naman ang galit ni Pangulo publicly—
SEC. PANELO: What do you mean mas malapit? Malayo siya, nasa Davao.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Hindi sir, personally you admit that you are close to the President; more than two decades na yata kayong magkasama, lawyer ninyo siya dati sa Davao.
SEC. PANELO: Noon iyon. Mas mabuti pa noon magkakasama kami madalas, ngayon halos hindi kami nagkikita.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sir sa pagkakakilala ninyo sa Pangulo, ‘pag nagsabi siya na galit siya sa isang tao, talagang… paano niya iyon ine-express kung gusto niya?
SEC. PANELO: ‘Pag galit lang siya. Ngayon galit, after that wala na, hindi na siya galit.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Pero sir, hindi po ba sinabi rin niya kay Acierto na, “O mga pulis, bakit buhay pa ‘yan, si Acierto?” May ganoon siya eh – is the ten million bounty made—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Ibig sabihin niya na, “O bakit hindi ninyo pa naaaresto ‘yan, akala ko ba may mga warrants of…” iyon ang ibig niyang sabihin.
Q: [off mic]
SEC. PANELO: Eh ano lang iyon, figure of speech.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Thank you, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Dapat you should be used to the President’s style of language.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: Sir, iyong letters of dismissal kamusta na po?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa akong info eh, hintayin natin.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: Ah, alright sir. Sir update on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, 4Ps bill, na-sign na daw ng Pangulo?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko—wala pa akong info on that.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WOLD: Alright, thank you.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir ano lang, kasi kahapon nag-sign iyong DOLE and several other agencies doon sa IRR ng Extended Maternity Leave.
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Palace’ side lang, sir.
SEC. PANELO: What about?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: What does it mean for our women?
SEC. PANELO: Uy! That means for you ladies, it will add more benefits to your present benefits. Imagine 105 days, that means you will have more time with your family, quality time. And that means also your health will be protected, because you will not be forced to work immediately after giving birth. And also the husbands, ‘di ba mayroon pa silang extended—parang 15, magiging 15 days na, so makakabuti sa pamilya iyon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Alright sir, thank you.
USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: Okay. Thank you, MPC. Thank you, Secretary Panelo.
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Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
