Tag: Panelo

Palace to Duterte critics: “It’s absolutely fallacious to argue that the President is surrending PHL sovereignty”

  (Eagle News) — Malacanang described as “fallacious” arguments made by critics of President Rodrigo Duterte that he was surrendering the country’s sovereignty by not pressing China to recognize and abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea. In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also reminded critics, including Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, that the proper way in reading the Constitution was not to read one provision in […]

President Duterte “comfortable” with all House Speaker nominees, won’t make endorsement, says Panelo

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte is “comfortable with any of the candidates” for the House Speakership as all of them are his “political allies,” according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. In a statement, Panelo said that President Duterte would not make any endorsement even as members of the administration party PDP-Laban chose Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as its candidate for House Speaker. “PRRD (Duterte’s initials) is comfortable with any of the candidates […]

Panelo says Chinese nationals’ fishing activity at Recto Bank, other parts of PHL EEZ, “tolerated”

(Eagle News) – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Chinese nationals are not barred from fishing at Recto Bank which is under the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) at the South China Sea. Panelo said that it is not really a grant of fishing rights, but China’s activities are “tolerated.” “Parang ito-tolerate mo lang. It’s not necessarily grant,” he explained after President Rodrigo Duterte said that China could not be prevented from fishing in the […]

“Second-level” officials to run Philhealth as top officials asked to submit courtesy resignation

  (Eagle News) – Malacanang said that “second-level officials” will run the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) after no less than President Rodrigo Duterte had asked its top officials and board members to submit courtesy resignations. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that while the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is investigating Philhealth, it is better for the top Philhealth officials to not have any direct involvement in the operations. He said that President Duterte wanted […]

“Outrageous interference”- Palace rejects call by UN rights experts for probe on alleged unlawful drug killings

  (Eagle News) – Malacanang again rejected calls for a probe on alleged unlawful killings in the country by United Nations human rights experts, saying this was an “outrageous interference” on Philippine sovereignty. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the call for a probe by 11 allegedly independent UN experts was based on a “biased and false recital of facts.” The 11 UN experts calling for a probe include Agnes Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur […]

Malacanang thanks South Korea for relaxing visa requirements for Filipinos

  (Eagle News) — Malacanang thanked the government of South Korea on Monday for its decision to relax the visa requirements for Filipinos who want to visit the country, as part of its goodwill in celebrating the 70th year of Philippine-Korean diplomatic ties. “The Palace appreciates the kind words of ROK (Republic of Korea) Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man when he announced that his country will start moderating visa requirements, as well as relaxing […]

Palace bares Liberal Party, Magdalo links to alleged plot to discredit Duterte gov’t through Bikoy videos

  (Eagle News) – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Wednesday, May 8, presented a detailed analysis of the various personalities connected to the “Bikoy” videos, including its distribution to the public, tagging members of the Liberal Party and the Magdalo group in the plan the main goal of which was to discredit the Duterte government. “What is important is that it appears from this diagram that the Liberal party, the Magdalo, and the other groups […]

Panelo belies Del Rosario’s statement; says no proof US brokered deal for PHL, China to withdraw vessels from Scarborough

(Eagle News)–The Palace on Thursday, April 18, said there was no proof the United States brokered a deal between the Philippines and China to withdraw their respective vessels during the Scarborough Shoal standoff in 2012. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement as he blamed former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, who had made the remark, anew for the country’s loss of possession of the shoal. “Even if there was such brokering, Mr. Del […]

Palace to China: Respect Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on Spratlys

(Eagle News)—Respect the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling on the Spratlys. The Palace had this to say to China, whose vessels have been spotted, based on reports, near several islands being claimed by the Philippines in the area. “We reiterate our unchanged stance — the arbitral ruling is irreversible, the same being based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law accepted by most, if not by all, […]

“Outrageous interference:” Palace slams US senators’ resolution seeking De Lima release, dropping of charges vs Ressa

  (Eagle News) – Malacanang said the resolution of five U.S. senators calling for the immediate release of opposition senator Leila de Lima and the dropping of charges against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was an “unwelcome intrusion” to the legal proceedings in the country. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that US senators Marco Rubio, Edward Markey, Richard Durbin, Marsha Blackburn, and Chris Coons should also “mind their own business” and described their attempts to interfere […]

President Duterte orders DOJ, OSG to review all gov’t contracts, including foreign loans, water concession deals

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a review of all government contracts, particularly those on concession agreements and foreign loans, with the specific instruction to “remove onerous provisions” of these deals. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President gave the order on Monday, April 1, during a cabinet meeting, directing both the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General, as well as all legal departments to review these contracts. […]

Malacanang expresses concern about current water crisis

(Eagle News) —  Malacañang has expressed concern about the current water crisis in different parts of the country, including in Metro Manila. Presidential Spokesperson  Salvador Panelo said the government will do all it could to solve the problem. One of the solutions they are eyeing is cloud seeding to induce rains. Panelo said that they would also probe if the government agencies involved in monitoring the water supply and its distribution in the country, particularly […]