USEC. ROCKY IGNACIO: MPC, welcome back. Kasama na natin si Presidential Spokesperson at Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.
SEC. PANELO: Good afternoon, MPC. I’m ready, if you are…
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Hi sir, good afternoon. Sir, may we have more details about the President’s meeting last night with some of the members of the LGBT?
SEC. PANELO: Wala ako doon eh kaya I cannot share with you. Basta ang alam ko lang, ‘di ba sabi ko sa inyo the other day noong nag-usap kami, he’s all for it, for the SOGIE Bill. And he’s also inclined doon sa third restroom for them, mayroon silang sarili.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: But after the meeting sir, will the President certify SOGIE Bill as urgent?
SEC. PANELO: ‘Ayan ang hindi ko alam kung ise-certify niya. But I understand malakas ang ano sa Congress ha. Malakas ang inclination to pass it. ‘Di ba, mayroon silang Senate hearing kanina eh, kahapon din.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: But I think sir, one of the issues or recommendations pointed out last night was the establishment of a Commission on LGBT. What’s the Palace take on this, sir?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi ko—I’ll ask the President regarding that. Mayroong lumapit sa akin kagabi na… I forgot his name, Melo eh. Ano siya, Head siya ng—ah talaga? Parang ayaw niya ng third restroom.
MPC: Why?
SEC. PANELO: Ewan ko, ipaliwanag niya raw sa akin. Baka siya iyong purist na since women, women siya.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: But definitely, Malacañang is in favor of the third restroom?
SEC. PANELO: Eh iyon ang usapan namin initially ni Presidente the other day. Hindi, ako naman kaya ko gusto ‘yan para wala nang problema. Para wala nang… ‘di ba, everybody comfortable. O kaya naman ‘di common na sa lahat, pareho ng mga nandiyan sa mga coffee shops ‘di ba, puro common ang CR, walang discrimination – you can come in and out, mag-aantay ka lang.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Sir, is the President want to disseminate infor—o I mean, to give message to the LGBT community? Is there anything that he wants to say?
SEC. PANELO: Wala, wala pa siyang sinasabi. I’ll ask him para mas maganda.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Hi, sir. Regarding the third restroom, will the President go as far as maybe appealing to establishments to come up with that?
SEC. PANELO: I’ll ask him. I’ll ask him para kung ano talaga stand niya.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Or I don’t know if there is an applicable order that could be issued?
SEC. PANELO: But I supposed that aspect will have to be tackled by the members of Congress when they pass the law. Kasama na siguro iyon.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Yeah. But ibig kong sabihin, pending the passage of that bill, is there any issuance that perhaps could be—that could come from the Office of the President? I don’t know if as a memorandum that could enforce this nationwide?
SEC. PANELO: None that I know of yet. But I can ask him.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Parang similar sir sa smoking ban or what… Is there—
SEC. PANELO: I can ask him about it.
INA ANDOLONG/CNN PHILIPPINES: Thank you, sir.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, I just want to clarify. Iyong binabanggit ni President Duterte na third restroom, is it a gender-neutral restroom or restroom only for LGBTs?
SEC. PANELO: Parang LGBT lang.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: For LGBT?
SEC. PANELO: Doon lang sa kanila, for both… both gays. Ah I mean both… lahat ng miyembro ng…
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Thank you, sir.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, parang hinarap ng Pangulo si Gretchen Diez. To be fair, may balak din ba to reach out doon sa janitress?
SEC. PANELO: Wala akong… wala ako kasi doon kahapon eh kaya hindi ko alam.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Kasi parang one-sided, iyong lumalabas lang is the video version ni Gretchen.
SEC. PANELO: Pero nag-apologize na naman iyong janitress ‘di ba? Apparently iyong kaniyang—ang kaniyang stand, hindi niya alam kasi na may ordinansa. That’s why sabi niya, she is willing to be educated on that. So kung alam niya siguro, she would have not done it.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Kasi baka mamaya matanggal sa trabaho tapos may anak na pinapakain.
SEC. PANELO: Mukhang hindi naman dapat matanggal iyon.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Sir ‘di ba—payag ba kayo sa mga panukala rin na magkaroon na lang ng parang common CR in every establishment? Like sa mga restaurants na isa na lang, may bowl and may urinal; wala nang lalake/babae.
SEC. PANELO: O hindi ba nga, iyon nga ang sinabi ko kanina. Puwede rin naman iyon eh, kaya lang you need…
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Makatipid pa sa pagpapatayo ng extra comfort rooms.
SEC. PANELO: Sama-sama na sila doon. Anyway may mga cubicles naman iyon.
REYMUND TINAZA/BOMBO RADYO: Pila-pila pa rin. Pila-pila – one person at a time.
SEC. PANELO: Ah hindi, eh di isang … maliit lang iyon. Pero kung malaki iyong restroom mo, may mga cubicles doon, ‘di ba. So kahit na magsama-sama sila doon, may privacy pa rin, hindi ba? Kasi, hindi ba, tingnan mo iyong malalaking restroom, may mga cubicles eh. Whether males or females, mayroon. Tingnan mo ang mga hotels, mayroon talagang ano eh. Kasi there is … when you relieve something else, siyempre kailangan may privacy.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hi, sir. Sir, hihingi lang po ako ng reaksiyon doon sa lumabas sa Urban Dictionary. Nagkaroon na po ng salitang Duterte na ang ibig sabihin ay scam, traitor, low quality.
SEC. PANELO: Urban dictionary?
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Opo.
SEC. PANELO: Sino bang may gawa noon? Totoo ba iyon?
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Opo, online dictionary iyon eh.
SEC. PANELO: Well, if that dictionary definition of Duterte refers to the President, then we have our own definition of the man which is exactly the opposite of what that dictionary gives. Duterte to us means honest, incorruptible, politically-willed person, courageous, selfless, honest, transparent, and all good things that come to and other synonymous terms.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, hindi naman po magrereklamo iyong Malacañang o iyong Pamilya Duterte doon sa paggamit sa kanilang apelyido bilang salita na parang hindi maganda iyong pagkaka—
SEC. PANELO: Baka naman false news iyon?
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, hindi, totoo. Subukan ninyo, mag-search kayo.
SEC. PANELO: Parang ngayon ko lang narinig iyong Urban Dictionary.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Lumabas iyon, sir, kahapon sa balita.
SEC. PANELO: Ang alam ko iyong kilala – Webster.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Mayroon na kasing mga online dictionary, sir, maliban doon sa mga traditional na dictionary.
SEC. PANELO: Baka mga anti-Duterte ang gumawa noon.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Pero halimbawa, sir, na kayo, napatunayan ninyo na totoo ngang may ganoon salita, anong masasabi kaya ng Palasyo?
SEC. PANELO: Eh di I’ll make my own dictionary also with that kind of meaning.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Hindi kayo magagalit doon sa paggawa nila na ganoon ang meaning sa Duterte word?
SEC. PANELO: First, hindi natin alam exactly kung iyong Duterte refers to the President or to the family’s name. At this stage, we will be speculating. Kasi mayroon akong nakita wine, Duterte eh. ‘Di ba? So hindi natin alam.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Sir, kapag nalaman ninyo?
SEC. PANELO: Kapag nalaman natin, eh di sasabihin natin na sa amin opposite ang meaning ng Duterte.
ROSE NOVENARIO/HATAW: Kasi puwede rin kayong mag-submit … kasi nagsa-submit lang doon ng ano eh. Halimbawa kayo, puwede kayong mag-submit ng word na gusto ninyong magkaroon ng meaning. So magsa-submit kayo ng ibang meaning sa word na Duterte?
SEC. PANELO: I will ask the President how he takes that, kung if it refers to him. Mas mabuti iyong galing sa kaniya.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, kasi iyong Coast Guard ng China nasa—
SEC. PANELO: Mayroon ako sa China, 28 ang alis hanggang September 2nd.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay, sir, iyon munang nasa Ayungin Shoal. Nandoon daw iyong Chinese Coast Guard since August 1 until… iyong report po, yesterday. First off, what do you think of it?
SEC. PANELO: We’ll defer to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: About what we think of it?
SEC. PANELO: No, about what it will do with respect to it. Kasi palaging the first thing that it wants to know is, is that validated? Then number two, the usual thing that the Secretary does is to file a diplomatic protest, lalo na kapag na-validate na military.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, hindi ba kayo nawiwirduhan doon na nandoon iyong Chinese Coast Guard?
SEC. PANELO: Eh di tanungin natin sa kanila bakit sila nandoon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Parang hindi tayo worried, sir? Okay lang na nandoon sila?
SEC. PANELO: We’ll ask them.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Tapos, sir, iyon pong sa Tawi-Tawi naman, sa Turtle Island. Medyo iyong mga fishermen natin, medyo natatakot na kasi may nakikita silang mga Chinese warship. So first, focusing on that incident first na mayroon ng effect, may consequence na for our Filipino fishermen iyong ganoong presence. Aside from filing from diplomatic protest, what is our position again on these things; and does it not make you angry that, you know, these situations happen?
SEC. PANELO: Hindi, kasi the right thing to do is, you file first a diplomatic protest and then you wait for their response. And then after that, we deliberate on what to do after receiving the response.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Do you think the presence of these Chinese vessels/warships or otherwise, and even the Coast Guard is in civilian nature dapat sa atin ‘no. Do you think this is a consequence of the administration’s attitude and policy towards China?
SEC. PANELO: We do not know then, unless they tell us that that is exactly the consequence of what our position is. Kaya nga eh, that’s the function of a diplomatic protest, so that we will get exactly their official response to it.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Pero hindi ba worried ‘yung Malacanang doon sa reported presence sa Ayungin considering na kung totoo mang nandoon ‘yung mga ‘yun, it could affect ‘yung delivery nung supplies. Remember, we have Sierra Madre there kasi ‘di ba? ‘Yung barko natin doon na nagsisilbing parang installation ng Marines doon. Aren’t we worried kasi ‘yung presence nung Chinese ships doon could you know somehow affect ‘yung delivery nung supplies sa mga troops natin doon?
SEC. PANELO: Again, I will repeat what I’ve said: We will wait for the official response after the DFA Secretary files his diplomatic protest on the assumption that it has been validated by the military.
ACE ROMERO/PHILIPPINE STAR: Okay, Sec.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Sir, about lang sa budget, ipinasa na raw kasi sa Congress kanina. But as compared last year, it’s a bit late na naipasa ngayon dahil last year isinabay sa SONA. So, how confident are you na it will be passed on time?
SEC. PANELO: Well, we—actually we do not have any guarantee. That depends on the member of Congress because they are the ones who deliberate on the budget. We can always hope that it will pass on time because any delay will again in affect our economy.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: But—
SEC. PANELO: And I’m sure the members of Congress know that.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: But given the new leadership now in Congress, hindi ba kayo mas optimistic?
SEC. PANELO: Well, were always hopeful whether Congress is dominated by allies of the President or not because after all, as we said repeatedly, members of Congress should know exactly what is good for the Filipino people being representatives of them.
MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Thank you, sir.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sir, sa CJ nomination. ‘Yun pong mga automatically nominated, nag-decline na si AJ Carpio and Leonen at saka I think si Justice Caguioa, so, parang dalawa na lang. Si Justice Perlas-Bernabe and si Justice Peralta. Ano ba ‘to, hindi ba ‘to sir, parang alam na ba nila kung sino ‘yung gusto ni Presidente?
SEC. PANELO: Eh, ‘di ba the President keeps to his chest the appointees he has in mind. So, wala… walang nakakaalam.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: ‘Yung pong pag-decline ng mga nominations ng mga senior AJs, what do you think of it?
SEC. PANELO: According to them, that’s the right thing to do; and most likely because they’re retiring already, September, October eh.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Si Justice Carpio po yata ‘yun.
SEC. PANELO: Justice Carpio and Justice Jardeleza.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Hindi naman siya indicator na somebody has it in the bag already na para bang there’s no point in—
SEC. PANELO: Hindi rin. I don’t think so. Eh, mayroon pang natira ‘di ba? Buti sana kung wala na, nag-iisa.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Si Justice Peralta na ba, sir, next?
SEC. PANELO: Aba! Teka muna. When you say they decline the automatic nominations, it doesn’t mean that they cannot be nominated?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: But they don’t want it na, sir.
SEC. PANELO: Kasi mayroong… may tinatawag na automatic nominated ka na. If you decline that pero somebody nominates you still, you have to decline it again. Kasi automatic nomination nga, kumbaga hindi ka na kailangan i-nominate.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: So, I doubt naman, sir, na if they had declined on the automatic nomination, they would accept naman another nomination?
SEC. PANELO: Puwede rin naman na delicadeza ‘di ba, kagaya ng ginawa ni Justice Carpio noon.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Okay. So, hind—wala namang promise kay Justice Peralta?
SEC. PANELO: Wala. Si Presidente pa. Alam mo naman si Presidente eh, walang nakakaalam lalo na sa appointments.
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: Sige, sir. Okay po.
USEC. ROCKY: No more questions MPC? No more na? Okay, Chona? Okay na. Joseph, mayroon pa?
SEC. PANELO: Si Chona palaging nire-reserve niya ‘pag Sunday. Ang daming tanong!
USEC. ROCKY: Nestor? Okay. Joseph, mag-last question ka?
JOSEPH MORONG/GMA7: [off mic] Wala na po. Tapos na ‘yung—
USEC. ROCKY: Okay, thank you.
SEC. PANELO: Thank you.
USEC. ROCKY: Thank you, Secretary Panelo. Thank you, MPC.
—END—
Source: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
