ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Magandang tanghali, MPC. Welcome sa ating regular press briefing with the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Secretary Sal Panelo. Sir, magandang hapon po.
SEC. PANELO: Good noon handsome and beautiful ladies of the MPC. Happy Birthday Henry Uri! Kaya pala absent ka noong isang araw nagpe-prepare ka ng blowout.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Secretary, magandang hapon. Iyong sinabi ho ng Presidente na siya po ay nangangamba sa ISIS. In fact, matindi iyong kaniyang binitawan na talagang napapaluhod siya at napapadasal siya dahil po dito sa problema sa ISIS. Paki-expound ninyo nga, may dapat bang katakutan na ang taumbayan? Ano bang kalagayan ng bansa dito sa senaryo ng terorismo?
SEC. PANELO: Ang sinasabi ni Presidente, natatakot siyang makarating dito iyong mga ISIS na alam nating lahat nakapasok na. Eh baka ma-intensify—
HENRY URI/DZRH: Paano Secretary—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Ibig sabihin nakapa—hindi eh, hindi ba nakapasok na sa Marawi iyong—
HENRY URI/DZRH: Sir, saglit lang ha. Kasi ang binabanggit ninyo, natatakot na makarating dito, pero nakapasok na.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. Ang ibig sabihin, natatakot siyang ma-intensify.
HENRY URI/DZRH: ‘Ayun, okay.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi kayo nakikinig eh. Intensify – lumala. Baka lumala, kasi alam mo naman ang mga ISIS, tingnan mo kung anong pinaggagagawa nila.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Paki-klaro lang ho. Are you saying talagang may ISIS na sa Pilipinas?
SEC. PANELO: O hindi ba sabi ng mga intelligence natin, may isa/dalawang nakapasok doon; nagre-recruit, nag-o-organize.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Malakas na ba iyong puwersa nila o…
SEC. PANELO: Eh recruit ‘no—nasa recruitment stage. That’s why the President is praying hard na hindi tayo magaya sa mga ibang bansa.
HENRY URI/DZRH: So, may dapat na rin bang pangambahan at katakutan ang taumbayan?
SEC. PANELO: Well—you know, the fear and the apprehension will always be there for as long as terrorism led by this godless group is still present. Hindi mawawala iyon, kaya kailangan talagang magkaisa ang buong mundo laban sa kanila.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, nakarating na pala na rin sa inyo iyong alert memo ng Northern Luzon Command, iyong possible ISIS or terror attacks sa some cities in Luzon like Laoag City, Vigan, Pangasinan and Tuguegarao?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ba iyon—kaya nga that’s precisely why the President has expressed concern/apprehension kasi nga because of that.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So, it’s true? Confirmed na may nakapasok na na possible terrorist dito sa Luzon?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah. Hindi ba matagal na ngang sinasabi ‘yan eh. Nag-umpisa sa Mindanao, pumapasok sa iba’t ibang lugar.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Thank you, sir.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: In relation to that sir, the alert memo. The memo specifically identified some areas – Manaoag, Tuguegarao and two more; I just can’t remember now. Does that mean that the AFP was unable to contain ISIS in the south?
SEC. PANELO: Well—we must know that ISIS is a very strong terroristic or terror organization and it is able to penetrate different countries of the world. So it is not impossible for them to get into our country. There are many ways, we are a country of islands kasi eh, ‘yan ang problema, kahit saan puwede silang pumasok.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Sir, just to be clear about it. Because the AFP, although it confirmed that the memo is real—the leaked memo is real, it’s saying that the information in there is still up for verification. And right now, it’s still not been validated. And you’re saying na confirmed pala iyon.
SEC. PANELO: No, that’s raw intelligence. That’s precisely why the President is praying na sana hindi tayo mapasok nang ganoon katindi na mga ISIS; because it will really bloody. We know that the ISIS group is so brutal in slaying people and we will be fighting back – and that will mean bloody encounters.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Okay. And so sir, iyong kakasabi ninyo lang po that ISIS is able to penetrate in different parts or areas of the world, iyong sa Northern Luzon area which is… what’s talked about in the memo, that’s not yet confirmed or what?
SEC. PANELO: Well according to them, they will still validate.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Okay, sir.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, you already mentioned it a while ago. Pero sir for the record, may details po ba kayo sa 4.1 trillion budget which was approved by the President last night?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa, hindi pa kami binibigyan ng Budget Department noong kumpletong dokumento.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: How was it presented, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Sa ano eh, sa screen.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Like?
SEC. PANELO: Ha?
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Ano ‘yung detalye ng nasa screen?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, iyong mga… kung magkano sa mga departamento; saan ilalagay ang mga pera; saan paggagamitan.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Like for example, ano ‘yung departments?
SEC. PANELO: Like iyong sa Education ‘di ba. Sabi ko sa statement ko education ang malaki, then sa health, tapos sa infrastructure.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: You don’t have specific—
SEC. PANELO: Wala eh, wala pa ako…
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, can you describe how the President said he is okay with the termination of the visa upon arrival privilege for Chinese tourists?
SEC. PANELO: What is your question? How?
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Yeah. How did he say he’s okay with the proposal of Secretary of Locsin?
SEC. PANELO: Sabi niya, “Approved. I am okay with that.”
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: No other comments?
SEC. PANELO: Wala na—no, I think he said that with respect to the practice of visa arrival grant, pero hindi naman pala—akala ko naman—akala ko rin one day, pagdating dito saka magbibigyan ng visa. Hindi pala, bini-vet pa pala iyon – 10 days. So sabi ni President, kailangan kung ano ‘yung ginagawa… gagawin din natin sa kanila kung sila rin ganoon. Puwede rin tayo dapat pumunta nang ganun… nang sampung araw puwede nang i-vet. Kasi right now ‘di ba, we have to apply for a visa sa China. Gusto ni Presidente, kung anong ginagawa natin, iyon din gagawin nila.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, on Secretary Locsin. Ano exactly iyong rason niya for that proposal? What did he say?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko masyadong napakinggan iyong kaniyang paliwanag doon eh. Ang magandang nakita ko doon, mayroong mapa ng Pilipinas na ilalagay, kung saan nandoon lahat iyong ating teritoryo pati iyong mga pinag-aawayang—
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Saan sir? Saan ilalagay?
SEC. PANELO: Sa stamp.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sa stamp.
SEC. PANELO: Sa stamp mismo.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Okay. Kasi sa passport ng Chinese sir may Nine-Dash Lines claim ‘di ba?
SEC. PANELO: Doon natin i-stamp, pak!
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Lalabanan natin ng stamp? [laughs] Alright, thank you sir.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, balik tayong konti sa ISIS ‘no. So, raw information but of course the President and the Palace is worried. And what are we going to do with regard to this threat, sir?
SEC. PANELO: O, eh ‘di we will have to improve on our intelligence and we will be more strict, dadagdagan pa siguro natin iyong ating security measures.
JOSEPH MORONG: Pero maaga pa naman, sir, to be discussing martial law ‘no or mga emergency powers?
SEC. PANELO: No, you know martial law will only be imposed in accordance with the Constitution. Just like in Negros—I asked him last night about Negros, ang sinabi niya you and I are lawyers, we know that we cannot just impose martial law unless the requirements are there. So—my response naman to him was, ‘I agree, you can also use your emergency power under the provision on quelling lawless violence by calling the Armed Forces of the Philippines.’ Right now, he has not done that, he has only called 300 PNP strike force ba iyon or SWAT? Iyan pa lang ang ginawa niya.
JOSEPH MORONG: So, we are ruling out a martial law in Negros, ‘no?
SEC. PANELO: Sa ngayon, yes. Kasi nga under the Constitution, kailangan may rebellion. So, sa ngayon eh patayan pa lang na—unbridled patayan pa lang ang nangyayari so…
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Sir, you mentioned iyong declaration of lawless violence. Hindi po ba in effect pa rin iyong earlier declaration of the President, iyong state of emergency because of lawless violence after the Davao bombing?
SEC. PANELO: Yes, pero hindi niya pa kino-call ang Armed Forces doon sa lugar na iyon. He can use that.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: So, it’s still in effect, it’s just going to be invoked if—
SEC. PANELO: Yeah.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: If the President would want more troops in Negros, right?
SEC. PANELO: Correct, I agree.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Sir, is Malacañang going to order for the deployment ban of Filipinos in Hong Kong following the unrest sa Hong Kong?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman, sabi ni Secretary Bello mino-monitor nila. Ang protocol nila ngayon is they are asking the Filipinos there to avoid those places kung saan merong protest, marches, para hindi sila madamay. May nadamay na ngang isa, di ba?
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: So, is the Palace in favor, sir, of deployment ban?
SEC. PANELO: Wala naman, walang deployment ban.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: May recommendation daw po si Secretary Bello. So, temporary—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi pinag-aaralan niya raw, iyon ang sabi niya.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Is he going to talk to the President about it?
SEC. PANELO: I think he talked with the President last night, I don’t know kung… kita ko they were huddling eh.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Napag-usapan po ba iyon, sir, sa Cabinet meeting…
SEC. PANELO: Hindi.
JOYCE BALANCIO/DZMM: Iyong nangyayari sa Hong Kong? Is the President concerned of what’s happening in Hong Kong?
SEC. PANELO: Palagi tayong concerned. You know, the President will always be concerned when the safety of our countrymen is at stake.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: Secretary, may details kayo nung pre-LEDAC meet kahapon?
SEC. PANELO: Wala.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: Okay. Sec, nakausap kasi namin iyong si PLLO Chief Sitoy nabanggit niya parang iyong federalism daw hindi nabanggit doon sa meeting. Ibig sabihin ba nito, the administration is giving up on federalism?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman, eh ang federalism palagi namang nasa agenda ni Presidente iyon; but as I repeatedly said, ang bola nasa Kongreso eh, federalism will entail an amendment to the Constitution.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: Pero how come it was not included in the priority bills at least doon sa pinag-usapan kahapon?
SEC. PANELO: Kasi hindi naman bill iyong sa federalism eh. It’s an amendment to the Constitution, cause you are going to change the structure of the government.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: Pero proposed legislation pa rin iyon di ba, so…
SEC. PANELO: Hindi proposed legislation ang federalism. That is an amendment to the Constitution, you will change the charter eh. Kaya kailangan iyong dalawa mag-agree muna sila how to propose amendments to the Constitution by calling itself as a Constituent Assembly.
ALEXIS ROMERO/PHIL. STAR: So, still part of your priorities?
SEC. PANELO: Oo, palagi—part iyon hangga’t hindi siya natatapos sa kanyang term.
But of course, I remember, that there have been some issues raised relative to the installation of a federal form of government. Some quarters are saying that we don’t even have to do that, because the Local Government Code would suffice, there’s only a need for certain refinements and amendment to the same. I suppose members of Congress would be looking at that angle.
In other words, if they cannot agree on amending the Constitution, then they can—that’s a fall back, they look at the government code and see what is need to be done.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, going back lang sa ngayon ay visa requirement na ng mga mababait na magagalang na mga Chinese na iyan. Sir, kalian magiging effective at ano iyong magiging procedure diyan, maglalabas ba ng EO, MC or it’s up to the Department of Foreign Affairs?
SEC. PANELO: Na kay Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin iyan, he will be issuing I’m sure a protocols relative to that.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Ano ba ito, puwede bang parang retroactive, para iyong mga nagkakalat-kalat dito eh maipauwi muna sila?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi iyong mga nagba-violate siyempre alam na natin ang gagawin doon. Ginagawa na nga natin.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Was that proposal done in a context of iyong sinasabi ninyo before that there’s cause of concern for the influx of Chinese tourist in the country? Was that proposal raised because of the issue?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung ano ang naging dahilan ni Secretary Locsin, wala siyang binanggit.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: So hindi po siya napag-usapan doon sa Cabinet meeting last night?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, ang pinag-usapan lang iyong entry visa.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILS: Okay. Nothing on concerns regarding the influx of Chinese tourist in the country?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, hindi napag-usapan.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Sir, is the new design of the visa a deliberate attempt to assert our—
SEC. PANELO: The new what?
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: The new visa design, is it a deliberate attempt to assert our ownership of the territory—
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Sir, who proposed the new design?
SEC. PANELO: Secretary Locsin.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Sir, what did he say during that meeting?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, sabi niya—pinakita sa amin iyong sa screen—
Q: He had a design already?
SEC. PANELO: May design, map of the Philippines, kasama iyong lahat ng teritoryo natin doon.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Sir, are there plans to expand this to other foreign tourist or exclusive for Chinese visitors lang ito?
SEC. PANELO: Eh siguro hindi lang sa Chinese iyon. Siguro—I didn’t hear him say that; but I suppose the logic there is kung ginagawa mo iyon sa iba, gagawin mo sa lahat.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Sir, kelan lang ulit iyong implementation? When will you start implementing this visa stamping?
SEC. PANELO: Siguro gagawa pa siya ng protocol doon, soon, I suppose.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Within the year, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Oh yes, definitely.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And how did the President respond to the proposal?
SEC. PANELO: Di ba sabi niya approved.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Hindi naman, sir, nag-ano… nagtanong, bakit?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, approved kaagad eh. Approved at saka gusto nga niya may reciprocal lang ang basis. Kumbaga kung ang pagpasok natin doon mahirap, eh sila dito madali; kasi parang pagdating puwede na eh, dapat ganundin.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Meaning, upon arrival din iyong visa natin sa China?
SEC. PANELO: Oo. Pero actually, hindi naman pala upon arrival eh, ten days. May ten days din eh, bine-vet.
Hindi kasi parang like iyong mga tourist, di ba meron silang parang in charge, pinapadalhan na kaagad iyong group, mga pangalan. Tapos bine-vet na ng Immigration. Siguro tinitingnan nila kung ano ang mga record nila, kung mga undesirable sila or may unsavory records.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, related lang since we’re talking about the DFA and China. You have other details about the upcoming trip this August?
SEC. PANELO: Iyan ang kanina ko pang inaantay na tanong na ‘yan.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Wag mong sasabihin ganun, sir—
SEC. PANELO: Magbo-volunteer na sana ako, ang tagal kako. I asked the President last night like you were asking me whose initiative? Under whose initiative? And I asked him. Sabi ko ‘yung makukulit nating mga kaibigan sa MPC are asking under whose initiative. Ang sagot niya sa akin, “That was our agreement with the President of China.” He said, “Remember that I said before that there will be a time when I will invoke that arbitral ruling? This is the time that’s why I’m going there.”
MPC: [chorus] Woooo
SEC. PANELO: That’s what he said. In other words, it’s about the China and Philippine issues.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: You have the date?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa eh. Pero most likely baka end of the month.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: End of August?
SEC. PANELO: Baka end of— end of this month.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, sir, forma— kasi in-invoke na niya ‘yun maybe indirectly in October and then April. Now this is going to be the formal, I mean this is the reckoning, correct?
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Why does he think that it is now time to raise—
SEC. PANELO: Eh kasi malapit nang matapos ang term niya eh. ‘Di ba ‘yun ang sinabi niya, “Before the end of my term.” He is also interested in that 60-40 joint exploration on minerals, oil. Pag-uusapan nila ‘yon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, sir ano lang ‘yun—so, this is the time to bring up the tribunal win and then—
SEC. PANELO: It will be a one-on-one.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Interesting.
SEC. PANELO: One-on-one dialogue.
HENRY URI/DZRH: So puwede na naming ibalita, i-report? Para lang eksakto, ‘yung pagmamatigas ng Pilipinas sa desisyon ng arbitral ruling sa The Hague ay paninindigan na ng Pangulo sa pag-uusap nila ni President Xi Jinping?
SEC. PANELO: Yes.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Okay, thank you.
SEC. PANELO: He precisely said that that is pursuant to what he said the first time we visited and China he said, “There will be a time that I will raise this issue and talk about it but not now.” The time has come.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Okay. Sec, so how does the President intend to raise the issue before his Chinese counterpart?
SEC. PANELO: Eh nasa kay Presidente na ‘yan kung papaano siya didiskarte. One-on-one eh!
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Baka naman ‘pag sinabi ni President Xi there will be trouble eh baka naman…
SEC. PANELO: Tingnan natin.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Paano niya sasagutin ‘yun kasi ‘yung China does not recognize that ruling eh?
SEC. PANELO: Let’s see how it goes when he goes there.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: May assurance ba tayo na magiging firm ‘yung stand niya kasi baka mamaya ‘pag sinabi ng—
SEC. PANELO: The President is always firm. There is no doubt about it.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: So, by the end of this visit mayroon na kaya ‘yung framework doon sa oil exploration?
SEC. PANELO: Eh, tingnan natin. We will be speculating. Tingnan natin, maghintay tayo. It’s enough that you know that he will be raising those issues. That’s precisely he’s going there.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Thank you, Sec.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Sir, what specific circumstances prompted the President to decide that this is the right time?
SEC. PANELO: ‘Yun na nga eh. That’s the circumstance when he said there will come a time that I will raise this issue and this is the time.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Okay. I mean, no recent event that may—
SEC. PANELO: Wala.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: —have pushed him to think that ‘eto na ‘yun?
SEC. PANELO: Wala. Siguro when he said that he was already—
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Just time.
SEC. PANELO: He was already thinking na this is the time, midterm.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Okay. Thank you, sir.
MODERATOR: Thank you, Ina. Dun muna sa topic na mainit. Julie, then Pia. Mic, please. Salamat.
SEC. PANELO: A hora momento.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Sir, by no reason—
SEC. PANELO: Now is the moment.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Yes, sir.
SEC. PANELO: [singing] This is the moment… [laughs]
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Sir, by no recent event you mean that—
SEC. PANELO: By?
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: —the Recto Bank incident did not play any part in the President’s decision—
SEC. PANELO: Ay kasama ‘yun!
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Okay.
SEC. PANELO: Tinanong ko pa nga siya: So, you’ll be including the Recto— ‘Yun nga, kasama ‘yun. China eh. Issue nga eh.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Okay. What else did he mentioned, sir?
SEC. PANELO: In other words, lahat na issue ng China kasama na.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Can you kindly elaborate, sir? So, when he raises the arbitral ruling, what does he want to bargain with China? The joint—
SEC. PANELO: Eh nasa kay Presidente—Antayin na lang natin si Presidente when comes back and report to the nation.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: But what did he mention to you last night?
SEC. PANELO: Huh?
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: What did he mention to you last night?
SEC. PANELO: ‘Yun na nga kung ano ‘yung ikinuwento ko, ‘yun na ‘yun.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Okay.
SEC. PANELO: Maikli lang ‘yung aming dialogue.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Do we expect a resolution of everything of after the Beijing visit or it will take a bit longer?
SEC. PANELO: Antayin na lang natin. Let’s wait.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Thank you, sir.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Ano ‘yung end na gustong ma-achieve ni President Duterte when he invokes— when he invoke the arbitral ruling—
SEC. PANELO: What do you mean anong end?
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: What does he want? What does he want to achieve?
SEC. PANELO: Ah goal. Siguro ‘yung— Ang alam ko one of them is ‘yung 60-40. Iyon ang isa at saka siyempre ma-resolve na ‘yung incidence sa ano… sa Recto Bank incident. Sino ang responsible doon? Ano ba ang compensation doon? Kasama ‘yun.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Will he also call for the pullout of Chinese troops in the West Philippine Sea?
SEC. PANELO: Antayin natin si Presidente. Mahirap magsalita. Mag-ii-speculate lang tayo.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Okay. Thank you, sir.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, in the visit. Are we looking to maybe sign an agreement with China with regard to the joint exploration/exploitation of the area?
SEC. PANELO: Let’s see how— whatever agreement they enter into, that will be reduced into writing.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: 60-40, 60 – Philippines, right?
SEC. PANELO: Uhm…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: This is ‘yung sa oil and gas, right?
SEC. PANELO: Parang ‘yun ang offer nila from the very beginning kaya lang nagkagulo kaya napagkalimutan na.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, meaning ‘pag 60, we own it… the area ‘no? That’s what it means, right?
SEC. PANELO: Oo. Ibig sabihin may advantage tayo.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Thank you.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Pero seriously, sir, seryoso ang Pangulo na this is the right time to invoke the arbitral ruling?
SEC. PANELO: ‘Yun ang sinabi niya.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: At he is now disregarding ‘yung unang sinabi na… ‘yung warning of his counter leader na si Xi Jinping na it would be trouble.
SEC. PANELO: Eh, ibig sabihin ready na siyang humarap.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Thank you, sir.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Sir, how will the President balance ‘yung interest po natin sa pagse-secure ng joint oil exploration deal with China at saka ‘yung pag-i-invoke po natin ng arbitral ruling at the same time po?
SEC. PANELO: Hintayin natin ‘yung kaniyang ano… diskarte diyan. We will let him do his thing there.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Hindi po ba—
SEC. PANELO: We cannot be speculating kung anong mangyayari, hindi pa natin alam ‘yun eh. Basta ang importante pupunta siya roon, ‘yun ang kaniyang pakay – i-resolve ang lahat ng pinag-uusapang nakabinbin pa hanggang ngayon.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Pero sir, may mas priority po ba siya sa dalawa, joint oil exploration deal at saka ‘yung ano po, arbitral ruling?
SEC. PANELO: Kasama lahat ‘yun, hija. ‘Yun na nga ang priority kaya nga pupunta roon, di pag-uusapan lahat. So, lahat ‘yun nakalatag ‘yun, nasa la mesa na ‘yun.
BERNADETTE NICOLAS/BUSINESS MIRROR: Okay, sir. Thank you po.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, napag-usapan po ba kagabi ‘yung plano ng mga Chinese investors na pasukin ‘yung tatlong islands in Cagayan and Zambales?
SEC. PANELO: Parang hindi ko na—I didn’t—parang hindi. Kasi hindi rin alam ni Secretary Delfin ‘yon. Wala—Hindi naman daw siya nasabihan doon eh. So, what they will do I think is to— ‘di ba sabi ni Secretary Delfin, “Let’s see kung anong mangyari sa mga investors na ito.” Kasi hindi raw siya kinonsulta eh.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: But is the President aware kaya sir doon sa plano?
SEC. PANELO: Alam niya ‘yan, dahil parang nabanggit in passing eh… at saka nasa news na eh.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So as far as the Palace is concerned po, you will still wait for the statements of the SND and the NSA before—
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, kasi sila naman ang—that’s their job – to see if there is any security concern on any issue.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: But the fact sir that itong mga islands na ‘to are in a very strategic location and also the Philippine Navy has also expressed concerns doon sa pagpasok ng mga Chinese investments and investors doon, do you think that there is a need talaga to—
SEC. PANELO: Eh unang-una, hindi pa nga alam kung makakapasok sila. Kumbaga ano pa lang iyon, plano lang pala nila iyon. Wala pa eh… They want to come in, eh hindi naman basta makakapasok ka sa negosyo rito sa Pilipinas.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, more details on the Landbank’s action plan kasi you mentioned in your statement that it will intensify lending to the agricultural sector. What will they specifically do, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Parang ang intindi ko kagabi, dadagdagan na nila iyong—kasi supposed to be nga agricultural iyong kanilang focus pero hindi na—iyon ang gagawin na nila.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Dadagdagan ang?
SEC. PANELO: Ang kanilang pagbibigay-pansin sa mga farmers or pagbibigay ng mga loans kasi hindi naman nasunod iyon eh. Mayroon silang plano doon.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Alright sir, thank you.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, medyo related lang. Iyong mga farmers medyo umaaray na sila because hindi nila yata mabenta na iyong—well, nabebenta nila but at a very low price now. Kasi in the provinces, medyo mahina iyong bilihan yata ng mga local rice natin because of the rice tariffication; this is the other side of the coin right? So number one, is the President aware of this and how are we going to help the farmers aside from doon sa funds sa rice tariffication—
SEC. PANELO: Unang-una ang mga farmers natin, consumer din ‘di ba? So iyong pagbagsak ng presyo, pabor din sa kanila.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: But they don’t have—they cannot sell at the higher price, that’s the problem sir. Meaning there’s too many rice; too much… Papaano iyon, iyong assistance?
SEC. PANELO: Eh hindi ba sabi ni ano pag-aaralan niya, si… iyong bagong DAR Secretary—rather DA – Department of Agriculture, si Secretary Dar. Si Secretary William Dar, Willy Dar ng DA.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, kahapon po si Presidente, sabi niya “I pray that Chairman Nur will…” accept ba the same terms that he has given to the MILF. Is he talking about another different regional organization for the MNLF for Sulu area?
SEC. PANELO: He didn’t mention that. Baka what he meant was pumayag si Chairman Nur dito sa BARMM.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: I don’t think that’s going to be easy because of the history of the group ‘no. And he said yesterday that there are sparks that might derail the implementation of the BOL. Wala naman—ano ‘yun, hindi niya ba—I’ll repeat the question: Hindi ba siya another regional government? Is that the solution?
SEC. PANELO: Eh pag-uusapan pa nilang dalawa iyon. Eh pero si—ang kagandahan kay Chairman Nur, he genuinely admires the President; he genuinely believes in the sincerity of the President to solve the century-old conflict in that region. Kaya palagay ko—saka madaling kausap si Chairman Nur eh, he was my former client noong maabsuwelto namin siya sa rebellion case. Madali siyang kausap eh, nakikinig siya; very reasonable man, dahil kung hindi siya reasonable eh ‘di nag-ano na ‘yan… o nag-alsa na iyan.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, sabi ng Philippine Coast Guard Western Visayas kanina, tigil muna iyong search and retrieval operation, for the clearing operations dahil pupunta raw ang Pangulo bukas. So, tuloy na? Confirmed na iyong pagbisita ng Pangulo?
SEC. PANELO: Nakita kong mayroong ano doon sa ano, schedule niya Guimaras.
MPC: [off mic]
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung anong oras.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Gabi? Mga hapon/gabi? The usual, hapon o gabi.
MPC: [off mic]
SEC. PANELO: Check. Check, check…
MPC: [off mic]
SEC. PANELO: Ah, I think tama tomorrow, kasi may event ngayon eh.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, so doon sa initial reports na—
SEC. PANELO: Usually hapon iyon.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Batay doon sa mga initial reports na dumating na… bakit pinayagan ng Coast Guard iyong—‘di ba may nag-capsize na dalawang bangka tapos pinayagan pa ulit right there and then iyong isa pang bangka na pinakamaraming casualties. Nagalit ba ang Pangulo doon sa parang nangyari na parang problem of protocol o sa naging aksiyon ng Coast Guard?
SEC. PANELO: Narinig ko kanina ang paliwanag ng Coast Guard eh, ini-interview. Ang sabi nila, wala raw silang viniolate na protocol kasi ‘pag number one lang iyong storm, puwedeng maglayag ang mga… So, kumbaga sinunod lang nila.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So kahit na ano eh ‘no… kahit na katatapos lang iyong aksidente?
SEC. PANELO: Eh siguro dapat nga eh, kahit number one hindi ka na pupuwedeng magpunta sa dagat.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Thank you, sir.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Sir, good afternoon. Sir, na-discuss po ba sa Cabinet meeting kahapon iyong proposal regarding sa Dengvaxia po, iyong recommendation sa Dengvaxia?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi. I was waiting for Secretary Duque, hindi nabanggit eh.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Iyong issue po ng Dengvaxia? Okay.
SEC. PANELO: Eh pero ang posisyon doon ng gobyerno, gaya noong sinabi ko na, pag-aaralan. Sabi nga ni Presidente kung ano iyong sabihin ng DOH, iyong mga doktor, iyon ang paniniwalaan niya.
HANNAH SANCHO/SONSHINE RADIO: Sir, last question. Any comment doon sa ruling ng Comelec na i-cancel po ‘yung nomination po ni Duterte Youth Representative Cardema?
SEC. PANELO: Eh, independent body iyon eh. Ang Palasyo, ang palaging policy doon: the decisions of any court or any administrative body should be based on facts and evidence presented before them. Abogado ang Presidente kaya ganiyan ang training niya.
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Maraming salamat, MPC. Maraming salamat Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
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Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
