SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Magandang tanghali sa inyong lahat.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Question na, sir?

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Hi sir, good morning. Sir, statement po ni Senator Imee Marcos na dapat i-cut na raw natin iyong diplomatic ties with Iceland. What’s your thought on this, sir?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hahayaan ko na si DFA Secretary Teddy Boy diyan, iyan ang linya niya eh.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Pero, sir—

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hindi masama. Eh kung gumagawa sila ng mga deklarasyon na labag sa ating kasarinlan, at pumapasok sila sa loob ng pamamaraan ng pamahalaan upang sirain ang sindikato ng droga sa ating bansa na sumisira sa halos buong pamilya ng ating bayan, eh baka kailangan na rin.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Meaning, sir, you’re not closing your door to the idea of cutting the ties?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Oh yes. Hayaan natin. Of course—we will leave that to the President.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Pero, sir, if ever lang po na matuloy nga iyong pinu-push for cutting the ties between Philippines and Iceland, how will it affect the Philippines?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: How will it affect us? Ano bang relasyon natin sa Iceland in the first place. Halos wala naman tayong … ni wala tayong embassy doon, ni walang ano sila rito eh.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: And how about, sir, iyong trade relations at saka po iyong mga Filipino workers na naka-base doon sa Iceland?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Mayroon ba tayong ano? Gaano ba karami?

Q: [OFF MIC]

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Pero alam mo, lahat iyan, all of that are taken into consideration. Titingnan natin kung … what is the best interest for the country, we will pursue.

CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: Sir, sinabi po ninyo na kung gumagawa ang Iceland ng deklarasyon na labag sa ating kasarinlan. So sa tingin ninyo po ba iyong pagsasampa or paghihikayat ng Iceland sa ibang mga bansa para imbestigahan iyong mga umano ay paglabag sa karapatang pantao dito sa bansa natin ay posibleng maging dahilan para putulin natin ang ating relasyon o ugnayan sa Iceland?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Oo naman. Kasi kapag ang isang bansa ay nagpapahayag ng mga posisyon na makakasira sa ating kasarinlan o sovereignty ay kailangan talagang putulin natin ang relasyon natin sa kanila kung wala silang gagawin kung hindi siraan lang tayo nang siraan sa mga kalakaran na hindi naman batay sa tunay na pangyayari dito sa ating bayan.

CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: Ipag-uutos po ba ng Malacañang sa ating Panlabas na Ugnayang Departamento na putulin na iyong ating ugnayan sa Iceland?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hahayaan natin ang ating Pangulo na magbigay ng kaniyang pinal na hatol sa mga panawagan na putulin na natin ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa isang bansa na kagaya ng Iceland.

CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Sir, iyong Pilipinas ba ay gagawin din ba ang ginawa sa ICC na umalis sa ICC? Gagawin din ba iyon ng Pilipinas na umalis sa United Nations?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Kagaya nga ng sinabi ko, hahayaan natin ang Pangulo ng bansa na magbigay ng kaniyang pantapos na posisyon dito—

Q: [OFF MIC]

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Final, final decision on this matter, sapagkat siya ang pangunahing arkitekto ng foreign policy sa ating bayan.

CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: Sir, bakit po ayaw ng Pilipinas na makapasok dito ang United Nations Human Rights Council? Isn’t it a good opportunity to tell the world, ikorek na … sabi ninyo nga, they are misled, misinformed sa anti-drug war campaign. Why not use this opportunity to inform them na mali iyong kanilang perception?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Eh unang-una, kagaya ng sinabi ko na ng mga nakaraang araw, kung gusto ng isang bansa at kung sila ay seryoso sa kanilang pag-alala sa paglabag ng karapatang batas dito sa ating bayan, ang gagawin lamang nila ay magbigay ng komunikasyon o sulat sa ating pormal at tanungin tayo kaugnay sa mga kalakaran kaugnay dito sa digmaan laban sa droga na nilunsad ng Pangulong Duterte simula sa kaniyang pag-upo bilang Presidente. Pero hindi nila ginagawa iyon. Hinahayaan nilang makinig sa mga kasinungalingang nakakarating sa kanila, sa mga walang batayang pahayag ng mga kalaban ng administrasyon, at pinaniniwalaan nila. At binibigyan na nila ng kahatulan na tayo dito sa ating bayan, ang ating pamahalaan ay nasa likod ng sinasabi nilang extrajudicial killings.

Kinakalimutan nila na ang lahat ng mga namamatay sa police operations na nilulunsad ng PNP ay naka-record ito. Mayroon tayong talaan ng mga pangalan ng mga namamatay na lumalaban at naruroon din ang kalakaran na bumabalot sa pagkapaslang ng mga ito, at iyan ay kung sila ay lumalaban at ang buhay ng ating mga police enforcers ay nakasuong sa panganib. Hindi maaari naman na hahayaan na lang natin ang bala na kumitil sa buhay ng ating mga police enforcers.

Iyan ang hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi nila makita ang katotohanan na halos isandaan nang pulis ang napatay ng mga ugnay sa sindikato. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi nila makita na mahigit 700 ang nagkaroon ng malubhang kalagayan at halos mamatay na dahil sa paglaban dito sa subject ng police operations.

CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: So, sir, kung magpapadala po sila, sabi mo, ng komunikasyon o sulat, formal letter, the government is willing to provide them—

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Wala namang sulat na binigay sa atin, pormal na pagtatanong halimbawa kung ano ang gusto nilang malaman sa ating pamahalaan na hindi natin sinasagot. Dito lang sa opisina ko, lahat ng klaseng sulat ay sinasagot. Ma-personal, ma-pribado, ma-opisyal, magreklamo kahit na tungkol sa kanilang kahirapan, lahat ng bagay ay sinasagot namin. At ito lang administrasyon ang gumagawa noon; walang iba.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, ‘yung sa statement mo kanina na dapat putulin na ‘yung diplomatic relations doon sa mga bansa tulad ng Iceland—

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hindi ko naman sinabing dapat, sabi ko hahayaan ko si Secretary Locsin at ang Pangulo na magdesisyon diyan. In other words, they will have to factor in every circumstance that could lead to the cutting of ties.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Okay sir, kasi dapat i-clarify n’yo kasi ang sabi mo kanina, “Oo naman, dahil kapag ang isang bansa ay nagpapahayag ng isang posisyon na nakakasira sa ating bansa o sa sovereignty ay dapat putulin natin ang relasyon sa kanila.”

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Yeah, but that is the call of the President.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So, how could you— how do you explain this ‘yung sinabi n’yo, sir na dapat putulin natin ang relasyon sa kanila? Can you please clarify lang ‘yung sinabi n’yo kanina?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: That is my opinion. I support the stand of Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin, but in the ultimate analysis as the chief architect of the foreign policy of this country, then it’s the call of the President.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, ‘yung sinabi n’yo na dapat putulin, is that your own opinion or the opinion of Malacanang?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: That’s my opinion in support of Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin’s position.

Q: (inaudible)

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: No, but Teddy Boy Locsin’s is also that – cutting of ties.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Okay.

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: I’m more concern with Secretary Boy Locsin because he is our foreign top diplomat.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So following on that, sir, what’s your opinion on the continuation of diplomatic ties doon po sa mga bansa na sumuporta doon sa Iceland-backed resolution sa United Nations?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Maybe we should take a serious look on our relationship with them.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: I’m asking, sir, because some of the countries that supported the resolution are countries kung saan malaki po ang concentration ng mga Filipino na nandoon particularly countries like Italy, Australia and Spain. Are you saying that we need also to look into whether we will be cutting ties with them, sir?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: For all we know they may be the ones taking a second look given the bruhaha that brought about this vote. Because I have repeatedly said—it was I who analyzed the vote and I said – and many are adopting it – that in a democracy a simple majority rule. And there was no simple majority here; in fact, even an overwhelming rejection because only eighteen votes as against fourteen votes denying the resolution, and fifteen of them did not register a ‘yes’ vote, which means this fifteen are not inclined to make a definite stand in relation to that resolution. Oh ibig sabihin, it’s not a UN vote.

Kaya tama ‘yung sinasabi na—napakinggan ko kanina si Sen. Sotto eh, “UN resolution; hindi naman U.N. resolution ‘yun, resolusyon ng labingwalo.” Tama siya doon.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Yes sir. But the countries still voted to adopt the resolution of these particular countries, sir. I’m not saying the U.N. generally, but these countries voted to adopt the resolution proposed by Iceland. My Question is, will the Palace or will the government look into cutting… possible cutting of ties with these countries?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Well, as Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin said, ‘that is a consideration on the table.’

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: What about the number of Filipinos, sir, who will be affected by this?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Eh, ganun din ang sinabi ko kanina, all factors will be considered in studying whether or not we will cut our ties with Iceland.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.

IAN CRUZ/GMA 7: Secretary, ‘yun bang resolution ng UN Human Rights Council legally binding na ba ‘yun, puwede ba natin silang i-allow dito or puwede natin silang hindi papasukin?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hindi. Paano naman maging legally binding ‘yun? It’s not.

IAN CRUZ/GMA 7: So, pag nag-refuse tayo puwede silang hindi puma— hindi sila makakapasok dito para mag-imbestiga?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Eh, tayo ang— ‘di ba tayo ang may authority to allow entry or deny entry to all foreigners in this country.

IAN CRUZ/GMA 7: Pero ‘yun nga, sir ‘no, sabi nga doon sa isang Question kanina, hindi ba ito magiging chance natin na ipakita na wala talaga itinatago ang Pilipinas?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Dati naman tayo walang itinatago, ano pa ipapakita natin eh— gaya nga ng sinabi ko, lahat ng mga nangyayari diyan sa digmaan laban sa droga ay nakatala, recorded lahat ‘yan eh. So all they have to do is to ask us; not to prejudge us.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, kung susulat sila, the U.N., asking the Philippine government to clarify things related to the President’s drug war, is the Philippines willing to share all the documents and records pertaining to this drug war?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Not to clarify. They ask us how many deaths are there in connection with the police operations? Oh, ‘di we will respond, ‘Oh per PNP, these are figures.’

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: No documents, no records to be given?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: You know, they have to believe what this government tells them because this government doesn’t lie.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: All right, thank you.

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: It behooves them to render respect to a sovereign state.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Hi, sir! Sir, will Malacanang— is Malacanang considering sending perhaps a representative to the UN to Question the validity of the resolution which was adopted?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: But Secretary Boy Locsin has already made a speech there Questioning the validity, as I have Questioned the same. Because as I said, it does not reflect the majority— even a simple majority, it should be unanimous.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: With that statement from the Foreign Affairs Secretary, anong status ngayon? Are we waiting for them to decide on that, kumbaga, because we are Questioning the validity of the resolution—so, what’s the status now? Are we gonna wait for them to respond to our given explanation?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: The UN? Well, we’ll let them do its thing, whatever it decides to do. We’ve already made our stand on the same.

REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, sabi po ni dating spokesman Harry RoQue na walang masama kung i-submit ng PNP ‘yung hawak nilang data sa UN Human Rights Commission kung wala namang itinatago. Ang sabi naman ni General Albayalde, it’s up to the higher authorities daw whether or not to submit ‘yung data nila on anti-drug operations. Will you allow or urge the PNP to just submit the data na available sa kanila to the UNCHR?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Number one, I do not recall that statement being made by Mr. RoQue. Number two, as I said, it is discretionary on the part of a sovereign government to respond or not to respond to any Question relative to anything concerning the affairs of this government. If we feel that the Question is legitimate, we will respond. But if the Question is only designed to fish information that it will use – by the inQuiring country – to embarrass this government, certainly we will not oblige.

REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, but the PNP is saying on the Real Numbers contesting those reported, so bakit hindi na lang i-submit ‘yun to once and for all matapos na?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: When the PNP says that is the figure, then that is the recorded figure and everyone should believe that because PNP is not in the business of lying, it is in the business of securing’s peace and order in this country.

REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Thank you, sir.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, can we confirm the report na ayaw na daw ni Pangulong Duterte na ipahawak sa PHISGOC [Philippines SEA Games Organizing Committee] ‘yung organization ng Sea Games?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap tungkol doon. I have to ask him para sigurado ang sagot natin.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.

REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Pero, hindi ba parang tama rin if ever, sir kasi it should be the government or the Philippine Sports Commission who… or that is really in charge of the overall operations sa Asian Games?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Again, I will ask the President about that.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Sir, ‘yung Sea Games hosting involves big amount eh, five or six billion pesos I believe. As far as Malacanang is concerned, who should be managing those founds? Which agency?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: It should Tourism plus—

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Tourism?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: —the one involved in the structuring of that South East Asian Games.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Could it be a private foundation, like PHISGOC?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: I do not know if that can be done. If private entities come in, I think it will—there’s should be a bidding process for that.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: So right now, sir. Again, if we were to ask you, what government agency should be managing the funds for the SEA Games?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: As far as I know, it should be the Department of Tourism. Because it’s—

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Hindi ba Philippines… the sports agency, sir, PSC or POC?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: They could collaborate, maybe. But when you hold an international event that will attract tourist; and principally that should be Department of Tourism.

CATHERINE VALENTE/MANILA TIMES: Sir, can you elaborate on the recent statement of the President that is—

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: By the way, now I remember si former Secretary Alan Cayetano is the one in charge of that, I remember. I do not know if he has a separate, independent entity outside of the other sports agencies or he is overseeing all of them. I will ask him nga pala kung ano iyong… ano na ang status, hindi ko na kasi naririnig sa kanya eh. I’ll get back to you when I confirmed that.

CATHERINE VALENTE/MANILA TIMES: Regarding the recent statement of the President that he is willing to invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US to stop daw po iyong Chinese militarization in the disputed sea. Do you think this treaty can be invoked even if there is no attack in that area?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hindi. Ang sinasabi niya doon sa mga critics, if you consider that as an armed aggression that will fall within the treaty then he will invoke it. Para lang bang ipakita iyong absurdity ng sinasabi ng mga kritiko na dapat banatan mo na iyong Tsina. Iyon ang sinasabi niya. ‘Oh sige, I’ll call on the US. Dalhin nila iyong 7 Fleet, tayo ni Carpio, Morales, Del Rosario, sama-sama tayo doon, sige nga,’ iyon ang ibig sabihin ni Presidente.

CATHERINE VALENTE/MANILA TIMES: So hindi siya, sir, serious sa sinabi niya na iyon?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Seryoso nga siya eh. Talagang—kaya nga hinahamon niya iyong mga kritiko eh. Eh hindi naman sila umimik after that. Wala na silang response.

CATHERINE VALENTE/MANILA TIMES: Pero sir, hindi ba totally ho sa previous statement ni President na kapag sineek natin iyong help from the US, it will bring us to the verge of war, ayon nga sa sinabi niya nung nakaraan. Hindi ba ito doon taliwas sa statement niya dati?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hindi. Alam mo si Presidente, magaling siya magbigay ng mga sitwasyon para to deliver a message, iyon nga ang sinasabi niya—iyon ang message ng absurdity on the part of the critics. Pinapamukha lang niya na iyong mga panukala ninyo eh maganda lang iyon sa imahinasyon ninyo. Hindi batay sa katotohanan. Nangangarap kayo – iyon ang ibig niyang sabihin doon.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: So in a way, sir, kasi ang sinasabi ninyo its to show the critics iyong absurdity of what they wanna happen. When he said that medyo may sarcasm?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Correct.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Is that right?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Exactly.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Because he has been repeating that line over the past three weeks, iyong daring the US, it’s in that same context. Is that what you mean, sir?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Yes, nayayamot na nga siya dahil ginagawa siyang pain, as if. Kaya nga hinahamon niya na nga sila eh.

TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: Sir, balikan ko lang iyong po iyong sa SEA Games. Sir, kasi before Malacañang issued a memorandum circular enjoining all concerned agencies to support the preparations of the games. Tapos iyon nga po, last week during the President’s sit down with the Daily Tribune and Manila Times he said na he is removing from the hands of the PHISGOC Foundation the preparation of the games and dapat daw po government through the POC and PSC na iyong mangunguna. So sir, napaabot na po kaya ito kay Congressman Cayetano?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Iyan ang hindi ko alam. I’ll ask him. The other day lang iyon, di ba? That was a Friday—Thursday.

TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: Sir, kasi there are reports of alleged corrupt practices involving the PHISGOC katulad po noong isang deal sa procurement ng athletes uniform na iyong isang pares ng medyas, it costs P3,000. Tapos iyong allowances po ng mga security personnel for the VIPs hindi daw po nabibigay ng kumpleto. Nakarating po kaya ito sa Pangulo?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Eh siguro, that’s the reason why gusto niya gobyerno na ang humawak, most likely.

TINA MARALIT/DAILY TRIBUNE: So, sir, will he issue an executive order anytime soon to formalize na it will be at the hands of the POC and PSC?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Yeah, since he made that statement, then that is forthcoming. Iyon ang posisyon niya, ayaw niya sa foundation eh.

Q: OFF MIC

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Sabi ko, it may be forthcoming because of that statement. ‘It may be.’ I’ll ask him mamaya.

IAN CRUZ/GMA7: Secretary, may nabanggit si Justice Carpio na may mga non-war options daw po, iyong mga hindi pagiyerang options doon sa arbitral ruling—

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Oh hindi nga ba ginagawa natin iyong non-war, negotiation is one of them.

IAN CRUZ/GMA7: Like iyong sinasabi niya, kailangan magkaroon ng freedom of navigation iyong ating operations—

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Magkaroon ng ano?

IAN CRUZ/GMA7: Freedom of Navigation Operations, iyong mga taga-Navy magkaroon ng mga pagpa-patrol doon.

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Eh dati naman nating ginagawa iyon eh, dati nga tayong umiikot doon, di ba may mga Coast Guard nga tayo eh. Dati na nating ginagawa iyon. Pero still the best, iyong negotiation pa rin, iyon pa rin ang number one. Mag-uusap tayo.

IAN CRUZ/GMA7: Sir, just reaction lang po ano. Sabi po ng PACC si Vice President Leni Robredo puwede raw ma-impeach dahil inendorse niya iyong resolution adopting iyong human rights accounts or resolution po.

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: PACC ba o iyong isang miyembro ng PACC?

IAN CRUZ/GMA7: Si Atty. Manuelito Luna.

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Siguro he should pursue that line, kung iyan ang kanyang paniniwala.

IAN CRUZ/GMA7: Pero ang Palace po, susuportahan ba iyon?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: If he consider the statement of the Vice President as—what does he consider it, ano ba ang sabi niya, bakit daw…

Q: Betrayal of public trust daw iyong pagsuporta doon sa resolution.

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Is ignorance a betrayal of the public trust? That is my response. If gross ignorance is the ground for impeachment; is that a ground under the Constitution?

Q: So?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Draw your conclusion. That is my response. But I will let the advocate pursue that line.

Q: Legally speaking…

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: There are as many opinions as there are lawyers. The Supreme Court will be the ulti—no rather, the impeachment court will be the ultimate decider of that legal issue.

Q: OFF MIC

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Eh di tanungin natin iyong… one, ang Supreme Court; dalawa, impeachment court. But you know, we have better things to do. There are so many problems in this country. I will leave it to those who would want to initiate whatever they want to initiate against whomsoever.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: Sir, follow up ko lang po iyong Question ni Ian. I-itemize ko lang, sir, iyong mga non-war options na sinabi ni Justice Carpio. One of his suggestions was, to enter into a convention with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei which all have conflicting claims sa South China Sea. Another is, for the Philippines to file an extended continental shelf claim in the West Philippine Sea beyond iyong 200 nautical mile EEZ natin off the coast of Luzon. Another suggestion is, to patrol the West Philippine Sea with the ten Multi-Role Response Vessels ng Coast Guard donated by Japan. He is also pushing for encouraging the freedom of navigation and over flight of naval powers like the US, UK, France, Australia, Japan, India and Canada. He also wants to invite Vietnam, Indonesia and Brunei to conduct freedom of navigation operations sa respective EEZs. And Justice Carpio is also supporting private sector initiatives to enforce the arbitral award.

Earlier you said na we’ve been doing mga non-war options and that negotiation is still the best. Among doon sa binigay po na suhestiyon ni Justice Carpio, ano po iyong tingin ninyo doon ay posibleng ikunsidera ng gobyerno?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Basta sa ngayon, ang Presidente, ang option niya ay iyong pinakamahusay; and that is negotiation, diplomatic negotiations. Wala nang ibang gaganda roon kasi ang kausap mo roon ay mismo iyong supposed to be na kaaway mo. Ayaw mo ngang awayin dahil baka magkaroon ng sigalot na makakadala ng panganib sa ating seguridad at sa buhay ng ating mga kababayan. Iyon ang pinaka-the best. Iyon namang pag-secure sa area, dati na nating ginagawa iyon.

JULIE AURELIO/PDI: So are we rejecting all of the suggestion outright?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Basta iyon ang pinakamahusay. Kasi ang Presidente ang chief architect nga, siya ang tumitingin – presidente eh. Now, kung ipagpipilitan ng mga kritiko iyong kanilang gusto, eh siguro sa susunod na halalan tumakbo silang presidente para kapag sila na ang naging presidente lahat ng gusto nila ay puwede na nilang gawin, kung sila na rin ang chief architect.

Sa ngayon, eh ang Presidente, pinag-aralan na lahat iyan. At pinili niya ang pinakamatalino, pinaka-hindi mapanganib na solusyon. At kaya nga nagkaroon nga ng tinatawag na diplomatic relations eh, idadaan ang lahat ng sigalot, lahat ng hindi pagkakaunawaan ng mga bansa sa pamamagitan ng pag-uusap. At baka sakali sa pamamagitan ng komunikasyon ng dalawang bansa ay magkaroon ng solusyon ang anumang hindi pagkakasunduan.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Sir, because late last month, the President, in one of his speeches, actually asked basically kung mayroong makakapag-offer daw po sa kaniya ng solutions on how to enforce the ruling, the Hague ruling, kumbaga bigyan siya. And now, we have these actually, I think, six options offered, are you saying na—

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Iyong lahat na options na iyon, matagal nang kinunsider noon pa ni Presidente iyan eh. Hindi pa siya Presidente, napag-aralan niya na iyan. Dahil alam mo, kapag tatakbo kang presidente, dapat alam mo na lahat ng gagawin mo.

Q: [OFF MIC]

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Eh nakapili na nga siya, ito ang the best. At nakikita naman ninyo ang nagiging resulta.

INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: So there’s no more changing the President’s mind no matter how many more possible options are presented to him?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Iyon na nga ang pinakamagandang option sa kaniyang pananaw.

ROSALIE COZ/UNTV: Hi, sir. Good afternoon po. According po sa isang report ng US-based non-government organization ng Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, ang Philippines daw po ang isa sa pinakamapanganib na lugar para sa mga sibilyan. Dahil po noong start ng 2019, mayroon pong 490 civilians reported deaths, at dahil daw po ito sa war on drugs – iyon po iyong source ng violence.

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: I agree ‘no, na mapanganib ang bansa sa mga kriminal, sa mga corrupt, sa mga kasama sa sindikato ng droga, talagang mapanganib. Kasi hindi naman hihinto ang ating mga law enforcement against criminals and drug lords, pushers who are destroying the fabric of our society. Talagang mapanganib dito. Kaya kung kayo ay mga kriminal, punta kayo sa bansa natin o mga miyembro ng sindikato, talagang mapanganib dito; it’s really dangerous.

Alam mo, iyong sinasabi kasi nila, iyong mga civilians, alam mo ang nakakatawa, ang figure ng PNP ay 5,000 plus – official record iyon. Sabi nila 27,000, eh sinama nila lahat doon lahat ng homicide cases eh – mga namatay sa aksidente, reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, mga pinatay ng mga ordinaryong sibilyan na iba naman ang motibasyon nila siguro – dahil galit, selos, pagkasira sa negosyo, away sa negosyo. Maraming ano eh… sinama nila lahat doon kaya aabot siguro ng 27,000 iyon. Pero iyong war on drugs, iyon lamang ang figure kasi iyon ang mga lumaban.

Pero palagi nilang kinakalimutan iyong sinabi ko na kanina na halos isandaan na ang patay sa mga pulis. Mahigit 700 naman ang serious condition, nag-survive lang sila. Hindi ko maintindihan, bakit hindi nila kinu-consider iyon? Kasi kung state-initiated iyon, eh wala, walang mamamatay na pulis. Maniwala kayo, wala. Eh kasi kung state-initiated, di binaril na lang kaagad iyan, tapos na kaagad ang labanan. The fact that there are casualties, eh ibig sabihin talagang lumalaban. At saka you should consider na kapag involved ka sa drugs, talagang iba ang tingin mo sa tao.

IAN CRUZ/GMA7: Secretary, next Monday ay SONA na. How’s the preparation of the President and ano po ang inaasahan nating major topic na tatalakayin niya sa SONA?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Well, ang alam ko lang na sinabi niyang babanggitin niya ay he will educate his critics of the constitutionality of his moves in the West Philippine Sea. The others, hindi ko alam kung ano pang sasabihin niya. He is a man of surprises.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, Thursday na raw iyong meeting ni President with 64 Customs employees instead of today?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Nabago ba? Hindi ko alam na binago nila iyong date. But definitely mayroon.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Opo. What can be expected from that meeting?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Siguro kagaya ng posisyon niya, either you resign or you will be booted out after the investigation or charges filed against you.

ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: So parang pangangaralan niya on that day? Sasabunin, parang ganoon?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Kasama na iyon siguro.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Sir, one follow up lang. Sir, can you confirm: Ililipat daw iyong 64 high ranking officials and employees ng Customs under the Office of the President dito sa Malacañang while—

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Hindi ililipat. They’re to report here muna habang they’re facing administrative and criminal charges. Kumbaga naka-float, naka-freeze nga sila. Kaya marami kayong magiging bagong mga kaibigan dito sa Palasyo.

Q: [OFF MIC]

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Dito sila magri-report.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Sir, sorry, clarification: Iri-report, meaning, they have to come here every day or kapag pinatawag lang ni Presidente?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Siguro. Ang ibig lang sabihin noon ay naka-float ka so hindi mo puwedeng gawin iyong dati mong ginagawa. Iyon ang ibig sabihin noon.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Okay, so they don’t have to report here every day?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Figure of speech lang iyon. Iyon lang ang ibig sabihin noon.

CHONA YU/RADYO INQUIRER: So sir, saan sila magri-report sa work for the meantime?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Sabi ko nga, puwede silang mag-report sa MPC, dito sa inyo eh. I-interbewhin ninyo.

Q: Sir, kay Piñol, kailan siya mag-a-assume as Secretary of Mindanao Development Authority?

SEC. PANELO PILIPINAS: Wala, wala pa akong naririnig na final.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: MPC, no more? Okay na. Maraming salamat, MPC. Maraming salamat, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.

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