(Eagle News) – Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo held his first media briefing as the newly designated presidential spokesperson on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018 in Malacanang amid the uncertainty of whether former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque will really resign to run for the senate or not.
Roque has been “on leave” since Monday, October 8, and had told Malacanang reporters that he would be going abroad and would not be able to hold press briefings.
Panelo said Roque had already texted him that he would be back on Monday. But he said he is not sure whether Roque would resign to run for the Senate next year. The filing of certificates of candidacy had already started on Thursday, Oct. 11.
“I really don’t know e. Di ba sabi ni Presidente sa arrival niya that he will be talking to Secretary Roque,” Panelo said when asked if Roque had sent word if he will resign or not from his post.
Panelo said that he had already received a memorandum dated Oct. 11 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea designating him as the Presidential Spokesperson. He will also serve concurrently as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.
“I was designed Presidential Spokesperson by the President pursuant to an October 11 memorandum addressed to me, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea,” he said.
Panelo explained that the memorandum said that his designation as presidential spokesperson was “effective immediately” in compliance with President Duterte’s instructions and to “ensure efficient delivery of public service.”
“So I will be acting presidential spokesperson concurrently as chief presidential legal counsel,” he explained.
Roque is still in China and had sent word that he was not yet sure if he would run for the Senate or nor.
Panelo said that as far as he knew, Roque was set on running for the Senate.
“He (Roque) really wants to be a senator, that’s what I know,” he said during his first Palace press brefing.
-Duterte to talk to Roque –
On Friday morning, even President Duterte said he is getting confused on the issue of Roque’s plan to run for the Senate. He said he would clarify this with Roque on Monday when he gets back from China.
“Di ganito yan e.. I hope I would not offend Harry. Sabi nya magtakbo sya ng senador..Oh di sabi ko, sige. Automatic may naisip na ako, sabi ko ‘Sal ikaw muna.” Duterte said answering reporters’s questions upon his arrival from Indonesia.
“Kinabukasan sabi niya hindi na raw. Sabi ko nasabihan na si ano. Tapos kinabukasan sabi niya tatakbo na naman siya. Sabi ni Bong kanina, hindi na siya tatakbo,” he said.
I’ll just talk to him (Roque) better. Ano ba talaga? Tatakbo hindi, tatakbo hindi. Tatakbo hindi?” Duterte added.
