ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS:  Good afternoon, MPC. Magandang tanghali Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesman Secretary Salvador Panelo. Good afternoon, sir.

SEC. PANELO:  Good noon, ladies ang gentlemen.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  Sec., can you elaborate on your statement about the revamp doon sa NAIA?

SEC. PANELO:  Eh parang… he just hinted about a revamp.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  So, gaano kalawak iyong magiging revamp?

SEC. PANELO:  Wala, wala. Parang in passing lang sinabi, wala siyang masyadong explanation.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  So paano niya sinabi, Sec.?

SEC. PANELO:  Parang ganoon lang, dumaan lang. “I think I will make a revamp,” parang ganoon tapos iba na ang…

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  So apparently displeased iyong Presidente doon sa nangyayaring delays sa flights?

SEC. PANELO:  Mukha… parang ganoon. Pero hindi siya nag-elaborate.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  Kasi for him to even float the possibility of a revamp, ‘di ba? So, kailan kaya ito Sec.?

SEC. PANELO:  Hintayin natin. Let’s wait kung mayroon o kung matutuloy whenever.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  Pero, what does this say about iyong attitude ng President about doon sa issue? Iyong kaniyang pag-raise noong possibility noong—

 SEC. PANELO:  Oh definitely… ‘di it’s a sign of displeasure.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  Okay. NAIA management, Sec.?

SEC. PANELO:  Mukha.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  Pati ba MIAA?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi, iyon lang ang nabanggit niya eh.

ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR:  NAIA lang, Sec. Okay.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Sir, soundbyte lang. Kasi this follows after the inspection ‘no. What did he tell you or tell the Cabinet further what he found out in the NAIA as far as mga areas of improvement that he thinks should be looked into?

SEC. PANELO:  Wala masyado siyang binanggit eh. Parang… basta displeased lang siya.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  And also sir in your statement, the President ordered the immediate operation of the Sangley Airport?

SEC. PANELO:  Oo, kasi hindi ba ililipat doon iyong ano… ililipat iyong general aviation saka iyong domestic flights.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  That is a solid plan already ‘no?

SEC. PANELO:  I think so, yes. For implementation na iyon eh. Parang nabanggit ni Secretary Tugade, if I’m not mistaken, parang… hindi ko alam kung he was referring to that, iyong December. Parang gusto ni Presidente, “Hindi, masyadong nang matagal iyong December. November na lang.”

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Okay. So November sir, we should be operating Sangley?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi ko na sure kung iyon ang nire-refer niya, kasi ang daming issues kagabi eh.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Iyon daw po sir, sabi ni Atty. Kris [laughs].

SEC. PANELO:  Iyon ba? [laughs]

 JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  So sir—so ang magiging itsura natin sir, domestic flights iyong puwedeng bumaba sa Sangley? Ganoon ba sir iyong—

SEC. PANELO:  Eh parang ganoon siguro, kasi kung ililipat mo eh.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  So sir, we will open—ganito na lang sir. So ang ano diyan is, we will open another airport for local flights ‘no aside from NAIA Terminal 3 and 2—and Clark for those in Metro Manila ‘no?

SEC. PANELO:  Yes.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  By November, tama?

SEC. PANELO:  Yeah.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Okay. Kaya ba ng Sangley sir iyon?

SEC. PANELO:  Tanungin natin si Secretary Tugade.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  But that’s what the President wants ‘no?

SEC. PANELO:  No. Actually that’s the plan of Secretary Tugade.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Iyong Sangley? And so, President gave it a go signal?

SEC. PANELO:  Uhum…

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  So November, local flights Sangley na rin? Okay, thank you.

AC NICHOLS/CNN PHILIPPINES:  Sir, just a follow up. By November, doon na sir iyong mga local flights. So—

SEC. PANELO:  Parang iyon ang intindi ko.

AC NICHOLS/CNN PHILIPPINES:  So if we booked for example a flight somewhere, tapos by November iyon, parang automatically we should expect na we’ll be coming from Sangley?

SEC. PANELO:  That’s the target date.

AC NICHOLS/CNN PHILIPPINES:  So the airlines have been informed about this, sir? About the possible adjustments?

SEC. PANELO:  Siguro naman, kung iyon ang plano ni Secretary Tugade. Papuntahin natin dito para [laughs] siyang ang tanungin ninyo. Sec. Art calling, you’re needed here.

TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR:  Sir, hindi ba—kung tama iyong na-research ko, mayroon pang dapat na investment and development plan for Sangley Point? Is it too early to target November for domestic flights?

SEC. PANELO:  I’m not familiar with the plan of Secretary Tugade. I’ll invite him to join me one of these days.

TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR:  Thank you, sir.

AC NICHOLS/CNN PHILIPPINES:  Sir sorry, just to be clear lang. Pero iyong November, sure po kayo? Iyong by November or you need to clarify that with Sec. Tugade also?

SEC. PANELO:  Yeah, kasi parang ang target date niyan December. Ang sabi naman ni Presidente, “Masyadong matagal ‘yan, November na lang.” Parang wala akong narinig na response ni Secretary Tugade.

AC NICHOLS/CNN PHILIPPINES:  So, parang the President wants it to be by November but we don’t know yet.

SEC. PANELO:  Kasi he’s in a hurry. He wants to fix all these things.

AC NICHOLS/CNN PHILIPPINES:  Yeah. But it will depend—

SEC. PANELO:  He wants to have a solution to the traffic in EDSA. Nagmamadali siya eh.

AC NICHOLS/CNN PHILIPPINES:  Okay. So he wants it by November, but it will depend if kaya?

SEC. PANELO:  Yeah.

AC NICHOLS/CNN PHILIPPINES:  Okay.

SEC. PANELO:  Kakayanin siguro iyon kaya… knowing Secretary Art. Nakatulog na ba kayo? [laughs]

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Sir, iyon pong sa—

SEC. PANELO:  Alas dos…

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  What time did you start? 8?

SEC. PANELO:  No, 7.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Oh my gosh. Sir doon lang po sa PhilHealth ‘no, ‘cause yesterday our understanding is that the President requested for courtesy resignations of the officers ‘no?

SEC. PANELO:  Yes.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  But there is also parang a colatilla saying: “The resignations to be submitted will have to be accepted by the President first before it takes effect. Until any action on their courtesy resignation is taken by the President, appointive officials shall continue to report for work.” Number one sir, nag-submit po ba kahapon iyong mga PhilHealth ng resignation or iyong request pa lang iyon sir?

 SEC. PANELO:  Eh, baka ngayon pa lang sila magsa-submit, kasi kahapon lang iyong sinabihan sila eh.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Okay. So sir, we don’t know yet if the President, although he has demanded for it, has accepted the courtesy resignations?

SEC. PANELO:  Oh, that will be accepted.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  That will be accepted, sir.

SEC. PANELO:  Undoubtedly.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Sir, can you share with us a little more—some more details about the meeting yesterday? How is the mood—how was the mood of the President and how did the PhilHealth officials explain themselves?

SEC. PANELO:  Well, he said that—he reiterated his trust on the integrity of President of PhilHealth Roy Ferrer, as well as the members of the Board. But he says he needs a clean slate, so that the investigation will proceed uninfluenced. And he told them that he directed the NBI to have a full scale investigation.

The Acting President Roy Ferrer explained certain things, and also Secretary Duque, as well as Secretary Dominguez. According to Secretary Duque, the Inquirer story – who is from Inquirer here? Julie, wala? Iyon daw Inquirer—kasama ka ba doon sa sumulat? It’s a malicious, baseless article with respect to the amount. Parang… magkano iyon, 150 billion? Parang nilobo nila nang husto, mali daw iyong mga basis.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  So sir, how much? ‘Cause you know, I mean it’s been going on for several years and I think this is a—what was the report to the PhilHealth and DOH?

SEC. PANELO:  If I’m not mistaken, parang 300 million lang lahat—

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  300 ang official—

SEC. PANELO:  Parang ganoon. Hindi ako masyadong sure doon. Basta sobrang bloated daw iyon. And it was also said there that… may pinakita silang… the satisfaction rating ng PhilHealth ngayon, ang taas. Plus, iyong pondo natin sa PhilHealth malaki.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Yeah. Iyong sa UHC sir, 250B ang papasok doon ‘di ba? 80% of it?

SEC. PANELO:  Yeah. Apart from that, iyong present. May malaki pa tayong pondo.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Did they say sir officially iyong losses as at 300M?

SEC. PANELO:  No. I’m not sure about the figure, pero parang—definitely, hindi iyong 150 billion.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Did they mention if the practice is widespread? Iyong mga false claims, iyong mga up casing—

SEC. PANELO:  Wala, walang binanggit doon. Ang naririnig ko lang doon iyong WellMed. WellMed ba iyon?

 JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Yes, sir.

SEC. PANELO:  That’s the one.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  No other cases maybe elsewhere?

SEC. PANELO:  Wala. Kung mayroon man, hindi ko na—hindi na-discuss doon.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Mayroon po kayang nabanggit si Presidente—

SEC. PANELO:  But I think, it’s better for us to wait for the full scale investigation of the NBI para we will not be speculating or guessing.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  And this covers the officials and possible involvement of hospitals, of course.

SEC. PANELO:  Certainly.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  This will be nationwide?

SEC. PANELO:  Yes.

 JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Okay. Sir, may nabanggit ba si Presidenteng papalit na?

SEC. PANELO:  Parang may binanggit siya ka—sino nga ba iyon? Si Dr. Jaime Cruz.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:    Hindi ba siya, sir, present Board?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi, private iyon.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Si Dr. Cruz will be from and will be—places what, sir?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi ko alam kung sa PhilHealth siya. Basta may nabanggit siya na he’s waiting for the response of Dr. Jaime Cruz for an offer I think he made to him.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  What is that offer, sir?

SEC. PANELO:  Eh siguro position. Hindi ko lang alam kung sa PhilHealth iyon o kung saan. Pero since we are talking about PhilHealth, most like iyon.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Okay, sir. So basta Dr. Jaime Cruz. Would you know where he is from or…?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi ko alam ang kanyang background eh.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Jaime Cruz, sir. But we are definite about the name.

SEC. PANELO:  Yeah.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  As—in some position in the PhilHealth, right? Okay, sir, iyon muna thank you.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  Sir, as to the resignation of the PhilHealth officials. Did the President give them like say a deadline as to when they should submit their courtesy resignations?

SEC. PANELO: No, siguro immediately iyon. Very clear naman si Presidente.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  Tapos sir, iyong sa replacement, sir, doon sa… for the resigning PhilHealth officials—

SEC. PANELO:  Pending the investigation and after the submission of the resignation, the second level officials will run the operation.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  The plantilla po ito, sir, ng PhilHealth?

SEC. PANELO:  Sinasabi niya nga kahapon, ‘oh iyong mga second ninyo, iyon muna ang magpatakbo.’

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  Sir, given na that the President wants a top-to-bottom revamp of the PhilHealth, isn’t it alanganin na for second level officials to run the PhilHealth given that they are also part of PhilHealth and may have had knowledge of the scheme?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi naman. Kasi they know the operations and there is an investigation, puwede namang pagsabayin iyon eh.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Iyong sa sinabi n’yo po kahapon na full scale investigation of the PhilHealth. Is the President aware or did he receive any information about mga alleged scams sa PhilHealth that may have prompted him—

SEC. PANELO:  You know, we have been receiving reports. In fact, my office has been receiving complaints from both sides inside PhilHealth, charges and counter-charges.

 JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  Both sides, meaning, sir?

SEC. PANELO: May nagrereklamo kay Dr. Ferrer; nagrereklamo rin si Dr. Ferrer sa kanila. And iyon yata ang binabanggit ni Dr. Ferrer na may mafia sa loob, yung mga sinuspinde niya. Marami siyang sinuspinde eh.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:   But as to iyong mga misrepresented claims ng mga certain medical institutions—

SEC. PANELO:  According to Dr. Ferrer, di ba ang dami siyang na-discover, in fact he filed several cases already.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  But the President is personally aware of this, kaya siya na—

SEC. PANELO:  Oh definitely, kasi hindi naman siya mag-a-aksyon ng ganoon. The President always receives complaints.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  Sir, just last on my part. When the President told the PhilHealth officials to hand in their courtesy resignations, did they accepted willingly or may mga grumblings po ba na they do not want to resign?

SEC. PANELO: No, in fact they thanked the President for giving them the opportunity to serve and they also appreciate the fact that the resignation is based not on the fact that the President mistrusts them, but because he wants a clean slate, he wants a full investigation.

Parang may binanggit pa nga siya doon, kung okay di puwede naman silang ibalik o kaya bigyan sila ng ibang position, whatever. Hindi pa—the President siyempre is tentative, kasi wala pa iyong report ng NBI.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Sir, huli na lang po, patanong lang po ng office. What was the basis of the order of the President regarding the full scale investigation and the courtesy resignations kung he finds the PDI report malicious po?

SEC. PANELO:  What?

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: What was the basis of the President for ordering a full scale investigation and the courtesy resignations of the PhilHealth officials if they find the PDI report malicious pertaining to the amount?

SEC. PANELO:  It’s not the President who said that, it’s Secretary Duque. Si Secretary Pinkoy Duque ang nagsabi niyan.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7:  Sir, regarding Dr. Cruz. Would he be the—a Director of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Incorporated?

SEC. PANELO:  I am not aware of his position.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RP:  Viber question muna, Secretary. From Rosalie Coz, UNTV: Ano po ang masasabi ninyo sa sinabi ni Senator Lacson sa naging pahayag nito tungkol sa dalawang pinakahuling pangako ng Pangulo, ‘If President Duterte delivers on just two promises he recently made, number one, to cut travel time from Cubao to Makati to five minutes within six months; and number two, to eliminate flight delays in NAIA within one month. For being superhuman he deserves to be President for life.’ May nakikita ba kayong motibo sa pahayag na ito?

SEC. PANELO:  Ano? Ang motibo na ano? And what is the question? Kung may nakikita—hindi, ano iyong huling tanong niya, may nakikita ba kayong?

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RP:  May nakikita ba kayong motibo doon sa pahayag ni Senador Lacson, number one, Secretary iyong cut travel time from Cubao to Makati to five minutes—

SEC. PANELO:  Ano ang ibig sabihin niyang motive, ibig sabihin si Senator Lacson hanga siya kung magawa iyon. Kung magawa ni Presidente iyon, gusto niya siya na ang Presidente for life. Iyon lang naman ang ibig sabihin noon eh.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RP:  And number two sir, to eliminate flight delays in NAIA within one month. For being superhuman he deserves to be President for life.

SEC. PANELO:  Kaya nga eh, iyon na nga iyon. Kung magawa ni Presidente iyon, ibig sabihin eh hangang-hanga siya at gusto niya ay siya ang maging Presidente for life. Wala namang motive doon, baka ini-inject lang ni Rosalie ng motibo na wala naman.

Parang may mga nagsasabi iyong about five minutes? Alam ninyo—last night ba iyon? The other night, galing akong Makati. Iyong lugar ko sa likod ng… sa may Magnolia, that is equidistance ng Cubao. It took me only less than 7 minutes, walang traffic eh.

Q:  Madaling araw, sir?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi walang traffic. Maraming sasakyan, pero mabilis talaga, puwede kang—

Q:  Anong oras?

SEC. PANELO:  Mga alas-dos.

Q:  Madaling araw?

SEC. PANELO:  Madaling araw. Pero—excuse me, ang EDSA kahit ala-una, alas-dos matrapik pa rin. In fact maraming sasakyan, except that puwede kang magpatakbo ng mabilis. The point is puwede kung talagang—kung na-ease mo na iyong traffic eh, baka iyon ang sinasabi ni Presidente, pag natanggal natin ang trapik eh kadali nga naman ang biyahe from Cubao to Makati and vice versa.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN:   Sir, speaking of the five minutes—

SEC. PANELO:  Oh baka naman merong subway.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN:  Sir, did you ask the President like you promised on how he will—

SEC. PANELO:  Nakalimutan ko nga eh, ang tagal naming nagkukuwentuhan. In fact, nag-break siya, tapos nagkuwentuhan kami about many things. Tapos naalala ko pag uwi ko, nakalimutan kong tanungin. But you know, I remember Makati has a project underway, iyong subway. Baka iyon. From Makati to… iyon nga parang hanggang Cubao yata iyon.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN:  What did Transportation Secretary Art Tugade at least make a presentation about how to minimize traffic?

SEC. PANELO:  Wala, wala pa siyang presentation.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, on the recommendation by the Cabinet cluster on climate change to decongest Metro Manila by giving incentives to some businesses or businesses that will operate outside the region. What did the President say about that?

SEC. PANELO:  Inaprubahan namin iyong ano eh, iyong motion to approve the suggestion.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD:  Meaning?

SEC. PANELO:  Di okay lahat sa amin.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD:  There will be an executive order pertaining to that, when?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi natin alam.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD:  But there will be?

SEC. PANELO:  Most likely.

 ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR:  Sec, you mentioned here mga pre-SONA forum parang last year din ano. So, ibig sabihin nito, the President will again, you know, imbes na iyong mga achievements di ba, imbes na focusing on achievements na made-discuss sa pre-SONA forum. So magdi-discuss uli si Presidente ng mga kanyang personal insights, ganun ba iyong mangyayari sa next SONA?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ide-deliver niya, I don’t want to preempt the President.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR:  Pero what’s the point of holding iyong mga pre-SONA forum on different issues—

SEC. PANELO:  Eh palagi naman ganyan di ba, usually may pre-SONA, tapos the President discards whatever plan prepared for him. Ano siya eh, spontaneous person eh.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR:  So spontaneous iyong magiging SONA?

SEC. PANELO:  Hindi natin alam, kasi ganoon ang style niya di ba, kung minsan naman binabasa niya.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR:  Although last time, hindi naman. Nagbasa lang siya.

SEC. PANELO:  Nagbasa lang siya. Tingnan natin.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR:  Pero walang nabanggit na parang themes, yesterday?

SEC. PANELO:  Wala naman.

ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: Wala pa, salamat, Sec.

PRINCE GOLEZ/ ABANTE: Sir, good afternoon. Just your reaction: The legal counsel of KAPA Ministry accused Pastor Quiboloy of instigating Duterte’s crackdown on the investment scheme. The lawyer said KAPA was just a victim of Pastor Quiboloy’s supposed maneuvering after losing some of its members to them. Just your reaction, sir.

 SEC. PANELO: The issue is: Has this particular identity defrauded those who invested? That’s the issue.

PRINCE GOLEZ/ ABANTE: Sir, will there be other closure of firms offering investment scheme, sir?

 SEC. PANELO: Kapag nalaman nating mayroong mga ganiyan, di dapat talagang ipasarado because it’s a continuing crimes of estafa.

JULIE BAEZA/DZME: Hi, sir. Comment ninyo po, sir, sa pagdi-debunk ngayon ni Senator Trillanes sa exposé po ni Bikoy na opposition daw iyong nasa likod ng Duterte ouster plot.

SEC. PANELO: Sino raw ang nasa likod?

JULIE BAEZA/DZME: Dine-bunk po ni Senator Trillanes iyong ouster plot na sinasabing opposition …

SEC. PANELO: How did he debunked it?

JULIE BAEZA/DZME: Mayroon po siyang pinakitang screenshots, sir, mga text messages na iyong exposé raw, si Bikoy lang talaga iyong… allegations lang niya lahat iyon and hindi opposition iyong nasa likod noon.

SEC. PANELO: Eh mayroon din yata si Bikoy ng mga text messages ‘di ba, pinapakita sa presscon noon?

JULIE BAEZA/DZME: Yes, sir.

SEC. PANELO: In other words, it’s his words against his, against Bikoy.  Baka both of them are telling the truth.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, what about the request of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon for an EO to formalize Cabinet officers for regional development security—

SEC. PANELO: Yeah, that’s in the offing, yes.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Was it approved?

SEC. PANELO: Yes.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: So there will be an EO on that?

SEC. PANELO: Yes.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: So, sir, also regarding Prince’s question on KAPA. Sa question niya kanina, sir, connected to that. Sir, the government is now freezing all the assets connected to this company—

SEC. PANELO: Which company?

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: KAPA. And the NBI and CIDG have started their crackdown on the company. So, sir, what will happen now to the investments of the people? Can they expect any return?

SEC. PANELO: Those defrauded will have to file cases against this owner, and they can recover.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: That’s the only way that they can recover?

SEC. PANELO: Yes, they will have to file criminal and civil suits.

HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Sir, good morning. Sir, regarding po doon sa joint memorandum para maging legal po iyong mga foreigners na magtrabaho rito sa Pilipinas. Sakop po ba nito, sir, is iyong mga iligal na po na nandito ngayon sa Pilipinas na nagtatrabaho? Kailangan muna nila itong makumpleto lahat para maging ligal iyong pagtatrabaho nila at lahat ng—

 SEC. PANELO: Kung iligal sila, dapat they will have to comply with our regulations.

HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: So if they’re working ngayon po tapos hindi pa ito nakumpleto, kailangan mag-secure muna sila?

SEC. PANELO: Yes, because kung hindi sila mag-comply, they are supposed subject to deportation.

HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: So kailan po natin—ilalabas pa lang itong joint memorandum, sir, ‘di ba? Kailan po iyong target natin na paglalabas?

SEC. PANELO: We will ask Secretary Bebot Bello.

HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Sir, kasi iyong iba, sir, nag-state ng concern, paano po raw iyong mga Pilipino na makakalaban po ng mga foreigners na magiging ligal na silang magtatrabaho dito sa Pilipinas po?

SEC. PANELO: What do you mean?

HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Iyong mga Pilipino, iyong mga kababayan natin, sir, na makakalaban nung mga magiging ligal na foreigners na magtatrabaho dito—

SEC. PANELO: Bakit naman makakalaban? ‘Di ba we’re clear on this na we will just get them kung hindi kaya ng Pilipino – kung specialized; and then you can learn from them, ‘di ba. Iyon nga ang sinasabi ni Secretary Bello, kapag mayroong highly specialized workers coming from abroad na nagtatrabaho rito, iyong mga workers natin will learn from them; and then, we don’t need them anymore, ‘di ba.

HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Highly specialized, sir, sa administrative support, off shore gaming operations and business process outsourcing po.

SEC. PANELO: Doon yata sa mga casino, ang problema doon ay iyong lengguwahe. Kasi iyong mga tumatawag sa kanila o nag-i-invest puro Chinese din – lengguwahe ng Chinese.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Sir, are you aware po doon statement ni PCOO … sa PCOO regarding iyong investigation nila of PIA Chief Harold Clavite, sir?

SEC. PANELO: No.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: No, sir.

SEC. PANELO: Who’s Harold? Iyong PNA?

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  Chief po, sir, ng PIA.

SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko … ano bang … may kaso ba iyon?

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  The PCOO is saying na he’s being investigated for alleged corruption.

SEC. PANELO: Then we will wait for the investigation.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Yes, sir. PIA Chief Clavite is saying that the PCOO has no jurisdiction over him… to preventively suspend him kung may—

SEC. PANELO: Bakit daw?

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  Kung may na-forward na raw na complaint sa Ombudsman, and he will just wait for the Ombudsman’s communication to him. As Presidential Legal Counsel—

SEC. PANELO: What does he mean na walang jurisdiction ng PCOO? Hindi ba under ang kaniyang departamento sa PCOO.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  So you don’t agree, sir? Kasi ang sinasabi niya, since mayroon ng … kung may pending complaint na sa Ombudsman, iyon na iyong may karapatan to preventively suspend him—

SEC. PANELO: Bakit, mayroon na sa Ombudsman?

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Hindi, kung nga raw mayroon na, wala na raw jurisdiction ang PCOO.

SEC. PANELO: Eh wala pa naman yata, hindi ba?

JULIE AURELIO/PDI:  So as Legal Counsel, sir, anong tingin ninyo po doon?

SEC. PANELO: Mayroon na ba? That’s why I’m asking. Kung wala pa, puwede. Kung may complaint na, oh di doon na sa Ombudsman.

JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, for Independence Day celebration tomorrow, si PRRD ay nasa Lanao? Tama, sir? Bakit po niya doon pinili, sir, instead of Cavite?

SEC. PANELO: I’ll ask him about that. There must be some special reason, and I’m sure he will say that in his speech.

JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, doon sa statement ninyo rin on what happened during the Cabinet meeting. You said, ”The Chief Executive instructed the members of his official family to utilize the government-owned television station to explain issues/concerns to public relative to their respective departments.” Is this in anyway related, sir, doon sa nangyaring Tulfo and DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista issue?

SEC. PANELO: That was never mentioned. It was never mentioned.

JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: It was never mentioned. So ano, sir, ang pinanggalingan nitong utos ni PRRD?

SEC. PANELO: Siguro para iyong mga department heads will have a forum to explain their concerns or issues.

JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Is this in a way, sir, parang Presidente ordering the members of the Cabinet to be more accessible, mas sumagot sa media in terms of whatever issues they’re facing?

SEC. PANELO: Not really. More on telling them na, “Uy, you have a forum, why don’t you use it.”

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, iyong kay Senator Trillanes lang po. He alleged that he is in possession of a 700-page of bank document provided by two syndicate members na kasama rin ni Bikoy, and that pinapa-check niya na ito sa mga foreign institutions. Tapos ang sinasabi niya is that this could prove that President Duterte may have benefited from drug money. Ang sinasabi niya na amount is parang five to eight billion worth of transactions. So what do you think about it?

SEC. PANELO: Matagal na niyang sinasabi iyan na mayroong pera si Presidente eh. He has been maliciously imputing that on the President, and he has not submitted any proof on that.

JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Do you think it merits, say, maybe a disclosure from the President na siya na mismo …

SEC. PANELO: No, it’s even undeserving of a response.

ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Hi, sir. Sir, Education Secretary Briones told the President last night, the teachers are being taken cared of. Sir, was the pay hike of teachers discussed during the Cabinet meeting?

SEC. PANELO: What I know is that they’re preparing for—basta they are doing something about it.

ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Sir, sino po iyong they?

SEC. PANELO: Hindi elaborated iyong ano … they are doing something about it, our economic managers.  Kasi you have to source funds. Kasi as the Budget Head was saying last night, if you increase 10,ooo pesos for every teacher, you need about 215 billion pesos.

ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Two hundred fifteen na po, sir, hindi na po 150?

SEC. PANELO: No, 115 rather, 115 billion.

ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Okay. Sir, ano pong reaksiyon ni President doon na ganiyang kalaking amount ang kailangan? How did he react, sir?

SEC. PANELO: He was just listening.

ARIANNE MEREZ/ABS-CBNnews.com: Hindi po siya, sir, nagbigay ng deadline kung kailan dapat po mainkrisan [increase] iyong teachers?

SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala naman siyang sinabi. But definitely, he is all for it. Ang problema nga lang doon ay naghahanap tayo ng pagkukunan eh.

ALVIN BALTAZAR: Thank you, Arriane. MPC, maraming salamat. Presidential Spokesperson, Chief Legal Counsel Secretary Panelo, maraming salamat.

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Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)