MODERATOR: Good afternoon, MPC. Kasama na po natin si Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Salvador Panelo. Good afternoon, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Good afternoon, MPC.
MODERATOR: First question?
SEC. PANELO: Shoot.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hi sir, good afternoon. Sir, wala po bang plano ang Palasyo na ipa-review sa MMDA iyong kanilang pinapatupad na provincial bus ban at saka iyong yellow lane policy kasi po mas lalong tumagal iyong oras ng biyahe ng commuters, lalo pong naging traffic, naging perwisyo po ito sa publiko?
SEC. PANELO: Eh hindi ba sabi nila pinag-aaralan nila. Hit and miss, kumbaga.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: So papaano po iyon, ginagawang eksperimento iyong public convenience?
SEC. PANELO: Alam mo, kasama siyempre… hindi naman pupuwede rin na hindi maapektuhan ang publiko ang mga nag-eeksperimento ka. Let’s give them a chance. Pinapakinggan ko sila kanina sa Senate hearing eh, marami silang plano eh.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Pero, sir, doon sa yellow lane policy kasi hindi pinagagamit iyong underpass at saka iyong mga flyover sa mga pampasaherong bus. So hindi po ba ito parang paglabag sa karapatan ng publiko na gamitin iyong mga infrastructure projects ng gobyerno na kaya itinayo ito ay para gamitin ng publiko para sa kanilang convenience? Eh bakit sa private cars lang po ito pinapagamit ngayon ng gobyerno?
SEC. PANELO: Gaya nang sinabi ko, nag-eeksperimento sila. Tingnan natin kung ano ang kahihinatnan, and then saka tayo gumawa ng hakbang.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: So hanggang kailan po natin titingnan iyong perwisyong ito?
SEC. PANELO: Alam mo, alam ninyo, iyang problema sa EDSA marami nang taon iyan eh. Walang administrasyong naka-solve niyan. And they are precisely trying to do something about it. Marami na silang tinangka, pero mukhang nabibigo pa; baka ibang klaseng solusyon—gaya nang nasabi ko, siguro kailangan niyan maraming skyways gaya nang nakikita ko sa ibang bansa.
But meanwhile, siguro that requires money, funding again. So hayaan na muna natin. And then, kung mayroon kang magandang mungkahi at iyong mga nakikinig natin ay may magandang mungkahi, siguro bigyan tayo, ang MMDA para makatulong.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Halimbawa, sir, iyong paggamit ng mga alternatibong ruta para sa private vehicles?
SEC. PANELO: Ginagawa na iyan. Ako nga, hindi ako dumadaan ng EDSA na eh.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Oo, iyon po sana, iyong para sa private. Kasi po iyong bus, EDSA lang talaga iyong puwede nilang daanan eh, eh bakit sila iku-confine doon sa dalawang lane lang. Masyado pong nakakaperwisyo iyon sa riding public.
SEC. PANELO: Siguro nakikinig ang MMDA, iku-consider nila iyong mungkahi mo.
JULIE: Sir, just a follow up on what you said na the government officially open to receiving suggestions from the public on how to solve the traffic—
SEC. PANELO: Dati naman eh… dati naman tayong open. In fact, kapag may nagmumungkahi sa opisina kong ganiyang, may sulat, binibigay ko kaagad sa MMDA; at inaasikaso naman nila.
JULIE: Yes, sir. Sir, if there will be any concrete suggestions from any concerned citizen, how will they send it to the government? Do you prefer that it be course through the MMDA or through the Office of the President, DOTr?
SEC. PANELO: Wherever. They can send it to MMDA directly; they can send it to OP; they can send it to me. Pinapadala ko kaagad iyan sa MMDA, at binibigyan nila ng audience iyong mga nagbibigay ng mungkahi.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Good noon, sir. Sir, sa mga lansangan, ang public transport ay priority, agree?
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Ang EDSA ay isa sa mga pangunahing lansangan na dinadaanan ng mga public transport, ng masa. So hindi ba dapat ang priority diyan ay mga public transport, agree?
SEC. PANELO: Alam mo, bumabalik na naman tayo. Pagbigyan na muna natin ang MMDA. Walang may gustong maabala sa EDSA. Lahat tayo naabala, in fact, we’re suffering by so much millions. Billions pa nga eh given the time lost.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: We try one or two lanes for private cars in EDSA, agree?
SEC. PANELO: Uulit-ulitin lang natin, bumabalik-balik lang tayo. Let MMDA do its job. Kapag wala pa ring magawa, eh di hanap naman tayo ng ibang solusyon. It’s useless discussing these things na mayroon na nga silang nirerekomenda at ginagawa nilang paraan tapos hindi pa nga nagagawa, ito na tayo, kini-criticize na. Hintayin muna natin – be patient. Lahat tayo naman ay apektado eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, will the President… now mukhang klaro na malaki ang problema sa EDSA, will he now reiterate iyong need for emergency powers kahit na dati medyo na-off na siya because of what some senators had told him? Pero given the circumstances now, do you think—
SEC. PANELO: I will ask him. I will ask him about it.
TINA: Good afternoon, sir. Sir, mayroon na pong directive ang Pangulo o policy directions sa POGO operations, iyong offshore gambling hubs ng PAGCOR?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa akong narinig na bagong policy niya. Unless na mayroon silang pinag-usapan ni PAGCOR Chief.
TINA: Sir, ano pong response ng Malacañang doon sa part ng call ng Chinese embassy o Chinese government—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ba nagbigay na tayo ng reaction doon. Pinapaimbestigahan natin iyong kanilang mga reklamo, iyong concern nila.
TINA: Sir, iyong concern … more on concern ng workers—
SEC. PANELO: Ang concern kasi ng China iyong—iligal kasi sa kanila at dito pumapasok. And then, ang kliyente naman nung mga pumapasok sa POGO ay puro mga Chinese.
TINA: Sir, ang assurance na ang Philippines, although nag-o-operate o mag-o-operate ng POGO will not be a country na cuddling iyong mga involved sa money laundering activities?
SEC. PANELO: Mayroon naman tayong monitoring diyan eh. Kung lumabag sila sa batas, they will be prosecuted.
JULIE: Sir, follow up lang. Kahapon ay hiningian po kayo ng reaction about iyong Chinese national na nahulog sa Las Piñas. You said yesterday that the government will not allow any abuses of Chinese nationals na nagtatrabaho dito. Given na it’s not the first time that a Chinese national has reportedly been kidnapped daw dahil sa utang tapos ini-illegally detained. Mukhang nagkakaroon ng problema about sa reporting dahil natatakot iyong mga Chinese nationals. Does the government feel na medyo tali iyong kamay natin on how to run after these abuses given na medyo enclosed sila dahil Chinese nationals sila, they don’t report, natatakot sila?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman dahil iyong isang iyon nalaman natin. Hindi naman lahat sila takot na mag-report; may nagre-report din eh.
JULIE: Can you cite any concrete example?
SEC. PANELO: I will have to ask the PNP Chief on that; sila ang may record niyan. Basta the police authorities respond to any report on abuses.
JULIE: Does the government plan to take extra steps to ensure na iyon nga, abuses of foreign workers in the Philippines are reported and acted upon? Stricter monitoring?
SEC. PANELO: In place naman iyong ating mga security measures and laws.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, hindi naman ito self-serving na tanong. Will the Palace or the President certify as urgent iyong panukalang batas, iyong Media Workers Welfare Act ng ACT-CIS increasing iyong salary ng mga nasa media for a decent living?
SEC. PANELO: I will ask him and I will tell him that it’s your concern, so…
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Gawing certified as urgent.
SEC. PANELO: Sabihin natin, we will lobby.
MPC: You will lobby sir?
SEC. PANELO: You, I’ll tell them that you are lobbying. O ‘di sabihin natin na tulungan natin ang media. Hindi, I will ask him para sigurado.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So iyon ang Palace position, Secretary Panelo will ask him?
SEC. PANELO: Yes! The Palace’s position we’ll ask the President, whether he will certify or not.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Sir, balikan ko lang iyong sa trapik. May mga… siguro narinig na rin ninyong suggestion at naiisip na rin ng iba, bakit po kaya hindi ang gawing traffic scheme sa EDSA ay ang pagbabawal by brand ng sasakyan. Monday bawal ang Toyota; Tuesday bawal ang Mitsubishi; Wednesday bawal ang Honda; and so on, so forth.
Ang tanong dito, Secretary: may legal ba—magkakaproblemang legal ba? Kasi parang hopeless na iyong trapik sa EDSA, baka naman nga sakali na pupuwedeng patulan iyong ganoong mga suhestiyon.
SEC. PANELO: Nakikinig sa atin ngayon si Chairman Danny Lim, saka si GM, iparating natin ang iyong mungkahi.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Pero magkakaproblemang legal ba, like for example, may we know, baka umangal iyong iba, dahil mababawasan iyong kanilang economic, kanilang—
SEC. PANELO: Basta lahat ng pupuwedeng mungkahi na makakatulong sa traffic problem eh subukan natin.
HENRY URI/DZRH: Puwede ba iyon, iyon ba eh constitutional ba o unconstitutional ba iyan?
SEC. PANELO: Lahat naman iyan puwedeng under the police power of the state. Basta iyong welfare ng sambayanan ang nakataya puwedeng pumasok ang gobyerno diyan. Police power ang tawag diyan.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, iyong four-day work week. How does that sound to you? Kasi at least iyong volume would be reduced.
SEC. PANELO: Narinig ko na rin iyan di ba, parang they are studying that sa MMDA.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Pero what do you think if it’s a concept. Do you think that will help?
SEC. PANELO: Hahabaan mo iyong oras?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Yeah, pero—
SEC. PANELO: Hahabaan mo ang oras kasi tatanggalan mo ng isang araw di ba.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Want do you think of that concept to reduce the—
SEC. PANELO: I’ll study it.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: O0 nga hindi ba…
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging epekto niyan eh, siguro personal kong ano, tingin ko sa… dapat magkaroon tayo ng 24 hours na activity, merong night, merong day para hati.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: May mga industries naman sa gabi na talaga rin.
SEC. PANELO: Pero—like for instance, eskuwelahan, bangko, kung merong night, kumbaga 24 hours ang activity natin. Meron bang ganoon sa buong mundo? Parang wala pa. Ano kaya subukan natin?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Spread out iyong schedule.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, 24 hours na may activity tayo, wala nang—kung iyong mga panggabi matulog kayo sa umaga; iyong pang-umaga sa gabi, trabaho n’yo.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: That’s your concept, sir. How is that going to help the traffic?
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre—can you imagine kung gagawin mong 24 hours ang activity, di kalahati niyan nasa night time iyong kalahati nasa araw.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Meaning nga, sir parang mahaha—kung halimbawa, 100 iyong tao sa 8 to 12, magiging na siguro siyang 50 for 8 to 12 and then 12 to 8—
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre male-lessen mo kasi merong ibang oras na magtatrabaho ang mga tao, papasok sa eskuwela di ba.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: 24 hours work day?
SEC. PANELO: Pero siguro iyong panukalang ilipat na natin iyong mga major government offices, ilagay natin sa ibang lugar.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: DOTr is already in Subic, hindi ba?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, hindi lang iyon, ang dami…
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Clark.
SEC. PANELO: Siguro ilipat na rin natin ito sa ibang lugar.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Saan sir, you mean the Palace?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi Davao, ang lawak ng Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: May suggestion daw, sir, kung saan ililipat.
SEC. PANELO: Saan, saan?
MPC: Beijing.
SEC. PANELO: Ilipat natin ang Beijing dito. Para kontrolado natin, we will be in control not them over us.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Of what, control of what?
SEC. PANELO: Next! Pero alam mo iyong ano… MMDA ikino-consider nila iyong secondary routes na…
MPC: Mabuhay lane.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, ang ibig kong sabihin, like iyong mga private cars o kaya jeepneys iba ang dadaanan hindi lang EDSA. Kumbaga, tatanggalan mo ng volume ang EDSA.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, what about opening iyong mga roads ng mga private subdivisions?
SEC. PANELO: Oh di ba suggestion din iyon, pero nagre-react naman iyong mga subdivision owners.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, ayaw n’yo rin noon?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, ako lahat gusto ko, kung pupuwede basta mabigyan ng… maibsan ang trapik sa EDSA.
JULIE: Sir, clarify lang. All your saying is personal suggestion n’yo po, not as Palace Spokesperson?
SEC. PANELO: No, ano ko lang iyon, personal.
JULIE: Bilang you said earlier that the government is open to suggestions, are you gonna give those suggestions to the MMDA for their considerations
SEC. PANELO: Naririnig na nila, they are monitoring naman eh, every time.
JULIE: Kahit even formally like through a letter? Are you planning to do that?
SEC. PANELO: Tawagan ko mamaya si Chairman Danny Lim.
JULIE: Ah sige sir, tapos balitaan n’yo po kami.
SEC. PANELO: Alin ba doon, which suggestion doon, which are you referring to?
JULIE: Ay wala akong suggestion, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Hindi iyong suggestion na binanggit ko.
JULIE: Sir, alin doon iyong personal ninyo, everything – the 24 hours, the lipat mo iyong government agencies to other places. All of those are your personal—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi iyong paglipat, hindi naman sa akin… ang original ko iyong gawing 24 hours. Oo iyon, hindi ko sabihin ko kay Presidente iyon, ‘ano kaya ang gawin natin iyon.’
JULIE: Another clarification. You also mentioned na ililipat di ba—
SEC. PANELO: Narinig ko lang iyon eh sa isang senador yata.
JULIE: Kasi sir, DOTr they’ve transferred to Clark di ba. So for you, you also wanted to transfer to Clark or elsewhere outside of Metro Manila?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko suggestion iyon eh.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, clarify lang. The Palace is open to public suggestions, correct?
SEC. PANELO: Siyempre, the government should always be open to any suggestion that will improve whatever problem the government faces. After all, we are in a society and each one is part of the whole.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Alright, sir. Sir, another issue. Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin has banned Chinese survey ships from conducting research in the country’s EEZ—
SEC. PANELO: Dati na yata ‘yan ‘di ba? Dinagdagan niya lang iyong listahan.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Yes. Yeah, dinagdag niya iyong China sir. Does the Palace oppose that move?
SEC. PANELO: No. Basta kung ano ‘yung sinabi ng Department iyon ang policy ng administrasyon; unless the President makes another policy statement.
ARJAY BALINBIN/BUSINESS WORLD: Thank you, sir.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Sir, may call si Secretary Año na i-restore iyong anti-subversion law. Anong opinyon ninyo doon—ng Palasyo?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko pa alam ang magiging opinyon ni Presidente doon. But I will ask him when we meet. Kasi that was already repealed if you remember, but ang concern yata nila is iyong mga bata nire-recruit.
TINA MENDEZ/PHILIPPINE STAR: Iyong mga bata sir na nare-recruit, tapos sa US daw hindi naman iyong anti-communism act ng US hindi rin naman na-repeal pa. Tapos siyempre sir, dito sa Duterte administration iyong—si Pangulo hindi na naniniwala kay Joma, tapos—
SEC. PANELO: Let’s see, that suggestion requires study also.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, may suggestion din si Senator Bato Dela Rosa to step up iyong police visibility inside campuses to prevent iyong recruitment umano noong mga communist groups sa mga estudyante. Payag po ba ang Palasyo doon?
SEC. PANELO: In UP, mayroon silang agreement na hindi makapasok unless mayroong coordination with the authorities. Siguro that can be a model kung gusto nating pasukin.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So you’re wanting—puwede silang pumasok basta mayroon silang coordination with—
SEC. PANELO: No, that is not the policy of the Palace. Sinasabi ko lang na puwede ‘yan. Those concerns, we’ll have to ask the President kung ano talagang policy stand niya roon.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Pero in the first place sir, do you see a need for the police to go inside campuses to address iyong problem—if there is a problem on that?
SEC. PANELO: I wonder kung the presence of police will stop the recruitment. Because recruitments are usually one in secrecy – iyon, that’s my response.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sa inyo sir, sa palagay ninyo?
SEC. PANELO: Ang presence ng police can prevent any crime being committed inside the campus. Pero recruitment… I don’t think na it will solve.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Is the Palace concerned, sir—
SEC. PANELO: Unang-una, ang recruitment doesn’t even have to be in schools.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: But is the Palace concerned sir about this supposed recruitment of students?
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, of course we are concerned especially because the parents are saying that some of their children are suddenly missing and then later on nalalaman nila nandoon na pala sa bundok or namatay na o napatay na. Yeah, we are.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: So, may directive po ba si Pangulo tungkol dito sir?
SEC. PANELO: Wala. Sa parteng ‘yan, wala. Wala akong alam na mayroon. Siguro ang suggestion natin sa mga parents, eh to tell their children that that ideology has long passed and is passé and they should not entertain joining any kind of subversive organization for their own sake.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, what’s your message to the students on this?
SEC. PANELO: Iyon na nga, that’s my message. Iyong message ko sa parents.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, do you share the assessment of Senator Bato and Secretary Año that there is widespread recruitment of students to become members of the NPA?
SEC. PANELO: I will defer to the National Security Adviser kung mayroon siyang ganoong finding.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: He did say sa hearing sir kanina: “Nasa limandaan hanggang isanlibong mga kabataan daw ang nire-recruit sa pamamagitan ng mga grupong affiliated sa NPA,” meaning the legal fronts. So there is a recruitment that’s happening.
SEC. PANELO: Baka ang ibig nilang sabihin, maraming sumasama diyan sa mga leftist organizations.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: On their own volition sir ‘no, siyempre?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko alam kung on their own volition. But given the idealism of the youth, I’ve been a youth myself… eh alam mo naman ang mga kabataan eh, gusto nila ng aksiyon, madali silang maengganyo na gumawa ng something noble for their country; and if they feel na kailangan sumama sa isang organisasyon to do that, they will.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And, that’s not wrong?
SEC. PANELO: Which one?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: The joining of these organizations.
SEC. PANELO: Joining leftist organizations that are identified to overthrow the government, it’s wrong.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir I think the proposal, iyon pong to revive the anti-subversion law. Ang logic I think ni Secretary Año is—
SEC. PANELO: To outlaw organizations, iyon na ‘yun. Kasi iyong anti-subversion law, Communist Party of the Philippines was outlawed.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Correct. But I think the rationale is to help the President quell the NPA. Parang stop mo ‘yung recruitment, and then you will have the anti-subversion law. But do you think that’s an outdated proposition, sir?
SEC. PANELO: It requires study.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Is there something wrong with joining left-leaning organizations?
SEC. PANELO: As I said, if the left-leaning organization is found to be allied with organizations that are subversive of our democratic society, then it becomes wrong and illegal.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, ba’t masyadong nakatutok iyong mga opisyal natin doon sa issue ng recruitment? And—ang dapat nilang pagtuunan dapat ‘di ba iyong social ills na siyang nagiging mitsa at ningas ng recruitment. Kasi, kaya doon namumulat iyong mga kabataan sa mga problemang panlipunan kaya sila nahihikayat na sumali sa isang progresibong organisasyon. ‘Di ba dapat pagtuunan ng gobyerno iyong problemang panlipunan na ito, hindi iyong recruitment per se?
SEC. PANELO: Iyong binabanggit mo eh dalawa lang sa opisyales ng gobyerno ang nagsalita noon, hindi lahat ng buong gobyerno. So hindi ibig sabihin nandoon, naka-focus iyong buong gobyerno sa recruitment.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: So, the Duterte administration is more concerned addressing these social ills that serve as… iyong parang mitsa ng recruitment sa mga kabataan?
SEC. PANELO: The administration is focused on serving and protecting the people. That will always be the basis.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Is college activism wrong?
SEC. PANELO: Depende nga eh. Nasagot ko na kanina ‘yan. Kung papasok ka sa mga organisasyon found to be allied na ang intensyon ay pabagsakin ang gobyerno, eh, ‘di wrong ‘yun. Pero, you join organizations to express grievance… legitimate grievance against the government, certainly it is not. It’s part of freedom of speech.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: And that is not a recruitment to become an NPA fighter?
SEC. PANELO: You have to distinguish between expressing yourself out of a legitimate concern for a grievance you perceive to be committed by local officials or national officials as against joining an organization that is allied to communist organizati0n found to be subversive of our democratic society.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Pero sir, ‘yung isyu kasi ng allied to left-leaning or communist is… medyo masalimuot kasi gan’un talaga ‘yung system. Sa reyalidad, we tend to ally with other groups/organizations because we have the same enemy?
SEC. PANELO: Not necessarily. Marami ring organizations na hindi allied sa left pero they’re still going to the streets demonstrating. Maraming mga human rights groups, even civic groups eh sumasama na rin diyan.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Thank you, sir.
JULIE AURELIO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: Sir, Justice Secretary Guevarra – in reaction to Secretary Año’s statement – said na—well, pointed out that recruitment or joining the CPP is not illegal or not a crime; tapos Secretary Guevarra is instead proposing na we give more teeth to the Human Security Act. How do you welcome that statement or how do you—
SEC. PANELO: Yeah, they’ve been saying that we have to put more teeth to that. I think the—that should be addressed to the lawmakers because they are the ones legislating the laws. They should provide more teeth to that. Like they’re complaining about the detention being so… so limited in number of hours. Hindi kaagad na—‘pag hindi mo nai-file kasi you have to release them. Hindi mo naman mai-file ang kaso kung kulang ebidensiya mo.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir last July, President Duterte said that he—aside from the 64 Customs employees na tinanggal niya, mayroon pang susunod na 100.
SEC. PANELO: Sabi niya.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: May update na po ba diyan?
SEC. PANELO: Wala pa. Wala pa siyang sinasabi.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Pero, can we assume that there is case building going on before he—
SEC. PANELO: Definitely. Kung ‘yan ang sinabi ni Presidente, mayroon ‘yan.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: May ano ba, sir… mayroon na bang nabigay na details si President Duterte saang mga offices or ano po ‘yung mga naging—
SEC. PANELO: Wala. Wala siyang binabanggit pa.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Alright. Thank you, sir.
VANS FERNANDEZ/POLICE FILES: Sir, good afternoon!
SEC. PANELO: Hi.
VANS FERNANDEZ/POLICE FILES: Sir, regarding din sa Hong Kong. Are you in favor na iba-ban muna itong pagpunta ng mga Pilipina doon sa Hong Kong lalo na ‘yung mga OFWs? Filipinos… Mga Filipinos. Travel ban sir, are you in favor of this?
SEC. PANELO: Sabi ni ano, hindi muna, ‘di ba sabi ni Secretary Bello?
VANS FERNANDEZ/POLICE FILES: Pero nagkakagulo na doon, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Nagkakagulo sa airport. Airport lang naman, limited naman ang gulo sa airport eh. Kaya ‘yung travel ban siguro with respect to kung gusto mong pumunta ngayon sa Hong Kong, this is not the right time to go there kasi ‘yung flight mo biglang naka-cancel, o ‘di ba?
JOSEPH MORONG/ GMA 7: [off mic]
SEC. PANELO: Eh ‘di avoid muna going there, that’s the advice. Kasi you’re not sure whether you’re going to reach Hong Kong in the first place.
VANS FERNANDEZ/POLICE FILES: Sir, on another issue. Sinabi po ng United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, na sinasabing hotspot daw ang Pilipinas dahil sa mga pekeng gamot. Any reaction on this?
SEC. PANELO: Pekeng gamot?
VANS FERNANDEZ/POLICE FILES: Yes, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Like what?
VANS FERNANDEZ/POLICE FILES: Misbranded, falsely labeled, mga gan’un. Hotspot doon sa knock off drugs.
SEC. PANELO: Well if that is true, maybe it’s really hotspot. Pero what I know is the FDA is strict on that and we prosecute people who are behind those fake medicines.
VANS FERNANDEZ/POLICE FILES: Sir, on another issue. Sir, baon lang. Hindi sir, regarding this kasi alam naman natin na galit ang Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa katiwalian. Now, this DepEd sinasabi nila na may katiwalian daw na nagaganap regarding dito sa mga librong binibili nila pero hindi naman nagagamit. So—at marami pang mga let’s say… ‘yung mga… ibang mga supplies na hindi rin nagagamit, corruption po ito. So, matutuunan po ba ito ng ating Pangulo?
SEC. PANELO: Iyan ang alegasyon, pero mayroon ng position paper diyan si Secretary Briones. May paliwanag siya diyan at si Pangulo ay nagtitiwala sa kakayahan at kawalan ng korapsyon pagdating kay Secretary Briones.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir push lang kaunti sa Anti-Subversion Law, hindi ba delikado, sir ‘to?
SEC. PANELO: Bakit?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Because that will maybe open up for abuse kasi parang ‘yung RA 1700 is membership to the CPP and allied organizations that can—do you think it can stifle dissent?
SEC. PANELO: Kaya nga hindi ba sabi ko it requires study. It requires study, so, let’s study it.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. Sir, kay Senator de Lima. Last night si SAP sabi niya na sabi ni Presidente eh he will not object if the court allows it. So, ano lang… statement lang ng position, reiteration and soundbite doon sa situation ni Senator de Lima.
SEC. PANELO: Eh ‘di na nasabi ko na kahapon na the President will—does not interfere with respect to pending cases. We’ll leave it to DOJ.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: And the court?
SEC. PANELO: And the court to decide.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay naman to visit ‘no? I mean in principle, I mean for her to visit the… her mommy?
SEC. PANELO: No. If I respond to that then parang ako ang hukuman na—I will leave it to the court.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: All right.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, last kick lang. ‘Yung—may timeline ba ‘yung pagdesisyon ng Pangulo o ‘yung pagbabalik ng Dengvaxia vaccine laban sa Dengue dahil on the trend ay tumataas pa ‘yung bilang ng mayroong Dengue cases sa buong bansa. So, may timeline ba kung kailan?
SEC. PANELO: Basta ang sabi niya papakinggan niya kung ano sasabihin ng mga eksperto, mga doktor.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Mga ilang buwan pakinggan?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi natin alam kasi it depends on the doctors. Mayroong—mas maraming doctor yata ang nagsasabing ibalik, mayroong ilan na nagsabing huwag.
MPC: [off mic]
SEC. PANELO: Isa, dalawa, tat—dalawa yata parang narinig kong noong magsalita eh.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Anong message n’yo kay PAO Chief Acosta?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi naman doktor ‘yun eh.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Kaya nga any message kay PAO Chief Acosta na—
SEC. PANELO: Eh, si PAO Acosta, ginagawa niya ‘yung trabaho niya bilang abogado ng mga biktima.
MODERATOR: Okay. Wala na? Okay.
SEC. PANELO: Thank you
MODERATOR: Thank you, MPC. Thank you, Secretary Panelo.
—END—
Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
