(Eagle News)–“Mr. Referral.”
This was how President Rodrigo Duterte described Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday, Sept. 10, following his admission he referred the executive clemency bid of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez to the Board of Pardons and Parole.
The President made the joke during a ceremony for outstanding government officials.
” Maupo po kayo. Salamat. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the Mr. Referral,” he had said.
Duterte has already defended Panelo from criticisms, saying referring the letter of request for the executive clemency by Sanchez’s daughter was the right thing to do.
Panelo has said he referred the letter in compliance with Section 3(f) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which penalizes a government official or employee for neglecting or refusing, without sufficient justification, to act within a reasonable time on any matter pending before him so as to obtain pecuniary or material benefit, favor his own interest or give undue advantage to or discriminate against any other party.
