MELA LESMORAS: Magandang araw, Malacañang Press Corps. Ngayon ay makakasama na po natin si Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles. Magandang araw, ma’am.
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: Magandang hapon. Dalawa lang po muna ang topic natin today. I was originally going to talk about other matters, but these are more pressing. On the shooting of Shinzo Abe, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs has expressed shock and dismay over this tragedy, and we are praying that Mr. Shinzo recovers fully.
Next, the President has tested positive in an antigen test for COVID-19. He has a slight fever, but he is otherwise okay. Those who have been in close contact with him are currently being informed by the Presidential Management Staff to observe their symptoms as per the protocol.
Regarding the President’s schedule for today, the Executive Secretary attended the morning’s meeting or briefing on matters of security on behalf of the President. He will not be attending, the President will not be attending the 246th Anniversary of US Independence at the US Embassy today.
However, he will virtually attend and give a message at the Leagues of Governors and Mayors’ meeting of officials tonight. This is part of the continuing campaign for series of vaccinations and booster shots in preparation for the face-to-face opening of classes this school year. The meeting was originally planned to have a dinner, but that meal has been removed to prevent officials from removing their masks.
The Vice-President, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, and Usec. Vergeire will be making presentations at the meeting tonight.
In relation to the First Family, Congressman Sandro Marcos has tested negative; the First Lady, Simon and Vincent are all out of town and have not been exposed.
The President encourages the public to get their vaccine series and boosters.
MELA LESMORAS: Two follow up questions, Malacañang Press Corps. Anyone? Tuesday Niu/DZBB and followed by Katrina Domingo of ABS-CBN News Online.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Ma’am, I would just like to know if the First Lady is with the President? At kumusta po ang exposure niya with the President?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: She is out of town; she has not been exposed.
TUESDAY NIU/DZBB: Ah, okay.
MELA LESMORAS: Katrina Domingo of ABS-CBN News Online.
KATRINA DOMINGO/ABS-CBN NEWS ONLINE: Ma’am, aside from the First Family, who else was exposed to the President and are undergoing isolation right now? How long will the President be isolated? And what events or activities will be affected by this health event?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: The President—well, it’s an antigen test, ha. So the people who are close to him, so we’re referring to those who were with him yesterday and the ones who are constantly he is in contact with – the Executive Secretary, PMS, etc., myself. We all tested negative in an antigen test. But the others he has been in contact with, including those who have taken their oath are being informed by the PMS to observe their symptoms as per the protocol. Usec. Vergeire will be willing to answer your questions in relation to health protocols.
KATRINA DOMINGO/ABS-CBN: Just on the second point. Which events will be affected by his isolation?
SEC. ANGELES: Well, the US Embassy event later, on the celebration of their independence, he will not be attending that. But the meeting of the League of Governors and League of Mayors, the officials, they are meeting tonight on the campaign for pushing for vaccines and booster shots that will continue and he will attend virtually and give a message.
MELA LESMORAS: And now, we also have Usec. Vergeire, of the Department of Health. Usec. Vergeire, please.
DOH USEC. VERGEIRE: Yes, good afternoon po to everybody. Good afternoon, Secretary Trixie. As to the question regarding the protocol for isolation of the President, the President will be isolated for seven days from the time that he was tested positive. And after that, if the symptoms have resolved already, he may be able to go back to work and have his face-to-face activities.
MELA LESMORAS: Okay. Question for Usec. Vergeire muna po, from Pia Gutierrez of ABS-CBN.
PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Ma’am, regarding the President. Does he need to undergo a confirmatory RT-PCR test or is the antigen test enough?
DOH USEC. VERGEIRE: Yes, Ma’am. So, based on our protocol, if a person is symptomatic, the antigen test will be accurate already. So, we are just going to monitor the President. But of course, the President would have that prerogative if his doctor would advise him to take his RT-PCR. But, nonetheless, the antigen test is already enough to state that he is positive for the disease and he has these mild symptoms.
MELA LESMORAS: Question for Usec. Vergeire. Eden Santos.
Q: Usec, on another issue po, regarding doon sa instant noodles po na sinasabing mayroon pong ethylene oxide. Para po mawala din iyong pangamba ng ating mga kababayan, since iyong instant noodles po na iyan dito sa Pilipinas ay isa sa pagkain ng ating mga kababayang mahihirap ‘no po, at para mawala iyong kanilang pangamba, ano po iyong take natin dito sa DOH? Dito po ba ay ang mga instant noodles ay affected nitong chemicals na ito or hindi naman po?
DOH USEC. VERGEIRE: Yes po. So, gusto po nating klaruhin na ito pong nangyari at isang insidente na lumabas na report kahapon ay nangyari po sa European countries, hindi po dito sa ating bansa. Mayroon po tayong local manufacturer ng food product na ito, kung saan ang atin pong mga ginagamit na mga sangkap nito at saka iyon pong pagsasagawa ay dito po sa atin sa Pilipinas.
So, ang sinasabi po ng ating Food and Drug Administration sa ngayon, base sa kanilang pagkakasuri at pag-iimbestiga ay hindi po apektado iyong production ng ating food product na ito dito po sa ating bansa. Nonetheless, ang atin pong FDA ay patuloy pong iniimbestigahan ito para makita kung mayroon man talaga na nakarating man from those manufacturers abroad dito po, papunta sa ating bansa.
But we are assuring everybody that FDA has already verified na ito pong product na noodles na ito, mayroon po tayong local manufacturers. We are not currently affected by this incident of contamination that happened in the European countries.
MELA LESMORAS: Okay. Thank you so much, Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire of the Department of Health.
Now, for questions for Secretary Angeles, Nestor Corrales of Philippine Daily Inquirer.
NESTOR CORRALES: Good afternoon, Secretary.
Ma’am, may I just get details on the meeting between the President and the Chinese Foreign Minister. Did the President tell Wang particularly his remarks on Tuesday that he will find ways to resolve the conflicts that we have, referring to our maritime dispute with China?
Ano po iyong napag-usapan nila, ma’am?
SEC. ANGELES: I apologize I was busy handling this. I had to get the antigen test.
Alright, the Chinese State Council and Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi stressed only the cooperation between China and the Philippines and that if this transcends any maritime disputes and he reiterates that the friendship between the two sides has lasted for many years. So, that is the extent of what they revealed to the public.
NESTOR CORRALES: What was the response of President Marcos?
SEC. ANGELES: This is mutually agreed upon. The President has said that he seeks to bring the bilateral ties with China to a higher level.
NESTOR CORRALES: Last question po. Did the Chinese government also extend an invitation to the President to visit China?
SEC. ANGELES: We have no information on that one. We assure you that as soon as it is formally acknowledged and accepted, we will make the announcement.
Oh wait, this was the one that he said there’s no date yet. I apologize. There was an invitation, but there is no date set as of yet.
NESTOR CORRALES: Did he accept it, ma’am?
SEC. ANGELES: Yes, he did.
NESTOR CORRALES: Thank you, ma’am.
MELA LESMORAS: Last question from Vanz Fernandez of Police Files.
VANZ FERNANDEZ: Yes, ma’am. Good afternoon. Could we receive further details and reasoning by the President on the dissolution of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission?
SEC. ANGELES: On the reason for its dissolution?
Well, basically the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, PACC I understand which was run by former, yes, Commissioner Belgica, is not in line with streamlining. First of all, its nature is investigative which can also be conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman.
So, usually what they do is they gather evidence on Presidential appointees and file the case with the Ombudsman. Whereas, a complainant can file a case directly with the Ombudsman for investigation and then later on preliminary investigation should be a criminal case or full investigation with regard to administrative cases. In other words, there are government agencies that addressed this already so there’s no further need for a PACC.
VANZ FERNANDEZ: Okay, ma’am, on another question. Has the President come to a final conclusion whether or not the upcoming Barangay Elections will still push through with the scheduled date of December 5, 2022?
SEC. ANGELES: There is no statement yet on that one.
VANZ FERNANDEZ: Okay. Thank you, ma’am.
SEC. ANGELES: You’re welcome. We’ll have one last question for whom?
Q: Clarification lang po, confirmation regarding doon sa [unclear] na appointment po. How true na binawi po ito ng Malacañang?
SEC. ANGELES: Well, there is no statement and no information on that one. So, it’s status quo as of the moment. Alright. Thank you very much.
MELA LESMORAS: Thank you so much Malacañang Press Corps.
SEC. ANGELES: Okay. By the way, just in case you’re worried, negative ako ha. Thank you.
MELA LESMORAS: Thank you so much, Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles. Thank you so much, Malacañang Press Corps.
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